excellently copied by Mr. Thorburn from a beautiful 

 oil-picture by Mr. Wolf, now in my possession, and 

 represents the male bird during the performance of his 

 love-antics. These much resemble those of a domestic 

 Turkey of the same sex, bat are accompanied by a 

 very remarkable love-song, quite impossible to describe, 

 but never to be forgotten by those who have once heard 

 it. When this frenzy possesses the bird, it is possible, 

 by choosing the right moment, to approach within easy 

 gun-shot and bring him down from his perch, but the 

 previous " stalk " has to be carried on with extreme 

 caution, as the old male Capercaillie is an exceedingly 

 wary and wideawake bird when in full command of his 

 senses. This bird is, in my experience, easy to rear, 

 but not easy to keep alive in an ordinary aviary, as it 

 requires an extensive range, and during the summer a 

 variety of food that is by no means always easy to 

 procure. The Capercaillie frequently interbreeds with 

 the Blackgame ; the male hybrids are most beautiful 

 birds, but, as is the case with the majority of cross- 

 bred birds, are sterile. A good figure of one of these 

 hybrids is given in the article on the Capercaillie in the 

 4th edition of 4 YarrehV 



