488 
THE CAPERCAILLIE. 
yeller ! These sounds lie repeats at first at some little intervals ; but as he proceeds, they 
increase in rapidity, until at last, and after perhaps the lapse of a minute or so, he makes a 
sort of gulp in his throat and finishes with sucking in, as it were, his breath. 
4 4 During the continuance of this latter process, which only lasts a few seconds, the head 
of the Capercaillie is thrown up, his eyes are partially closed, and his whole appearance would 
denote that he is worked up into an agony of passion. At this time his faculties are much 
absorbed, and it is not difficult to approach him. . . . The play of the Capercaillie is not 
loud, and should there be any wind stirring in the trees at the time, it cannot be heard at any 
considerable distance. Indeed, during the calmest and most favorable weather, it is not 
audible at more than two or three hundred paces. 
44 On hearing the call of the cock, the hens, whose cry in some degree resembles the croak 
of the raven, or rather perhaps the sounds, Gock / Gock ! GocJc ! assemble from all parts of 
the surrounding forest. The male bird now descends from the eminence on which he was 
perched, to the ground, where he and his female friends join company. 
£ ‘ The Capercaillie does not play indiscriminately over the forest, but he has his certain 
stations (Tjader-lek, which may perhaps be rendered, his playing-grounds). These, however, 
are often of some little extent. Here, unless very much persecuted, the song of these birds 
may be heard in the spring for years together. The Capercaillie does not, during his play, 
confine himself to any particular tree, for, on the contrary, it is seldom he is to be met with 
exactly on the same spot for two days in succession. 
4 4 On these ZeZ:, several Capercaillie may occasionally be heard playing at the same time ; 
Mr. Grielf, in his quaint way, observes, 4 It then goes gloriously.’ So long, however, as the 
old male birds are alive, they will not, it is said, permit the young ones, or those of the 
preceding season, to play. Should the old birds, however, be killed, the young ones, in the 
course of a day or two, usually open their pipes. Combats, as it may be supposed, not 
unfrequently take place on these occasions ; though I do not recollect having heard of more 
than two of these birds being engaged at the same time. 
4 4 Though altogether contrary to law, it is now that the greatest slaughter is committed 
among the Capercaillie ; for any lump of a fellow who has strength to draw a trigger may, with 
a little instruction, manage to knock them down. As the plan, however, of shooting these 
noble birds during their play is something curious, I shall do my best to describe it. 
44 It being first ascertained where the lek is situated, the sportsman proceeds to the spot and 
listens in profound silence until he hears the call of the cock. So long, however, as the bird 
only repeats his commencing sound, he must, if he be at all near to him, remain stationary ; 
but the instant the Capercaille comes to the wind-up, the gulp, etc., during which, as I have 
just now said, its faculties of both seeing and hearing are in a degree absorbed, then he may 
advance a little. This note, however, lasts so short a time, that the sportsman is seldom able 
to take more than three or four steps before it ceases ; for the instant that is the case, he must 
again halt, and if in an exposed situation remain fixed like a statue. This is absolutely neces- 
sary ; for during his play, excepting during the gulp, etc., the Capercaillie is exceedingly 
watchful, and easily takes the alarm. If all remain quiet, however, the bird usually goes on 
again immediately with his first strain, and when he once more comes to the final note, the 
sportsman advances as before. 
44 To become a proficient at this sport requires a good deal of practice. In the first place, a 
person must know how to take advantage of the ground when advancing upon the Capercaillie ; 
for if in full daylight, this is hardly practicable in exposed situations ; and in the next, that 
he may not move forward excepting upon the note which is so fatal to that bird. This is likely 
enough to happen if it be an old cock that has been previously exposed to shots, for he often 
runs on with PeZZer, peller, peller , until one supposes that he is just coming to the gulp, when 
he suddenly makes a stop. If, therefore, a person were then incautiously to advance, he 
would, in all probability, instantly take to flight.” 
The nest of the Capercaillie is made upon the ground, and contains eight to ten eggs ; 
when hatched, the young are fed upon insects, more especially ants and their pupse. The 
