142 THE WOOD GROUSE OR CAPERCAILZIE. 
ever, tliose birds were in the pines in the first in- 
stance ; but, as niy dog was possessed of an extra- 
ordinarily fine sense of smelling, she would often 
wind, or, in other words, scent them from a very 
long distance. 
“ When she found the capercailzie, she would sta- 
tion herself under the tree where they were sitting, 
and, by keeping up an incessant barking, direct my 
steps towards the spot. I now advanced with silence 
and caution ; and as it frequently happened that the 
attention of the bird was much taken up ndth ob- 
serving the dog, I was enabled to approach until it 
was within the range of my rifle, or even of my com- 
mon gun. 
“ In the forest, the capercailzie does not always 
present an easy mark ; for, dipping down from the 
pines nearly to the ground, as is frequently the case, 
they are often almost out of distance before one can 
properly take aim. No. 1 or 2 shot may answer 
very well, at short range, to kill the hens ; but for 
the cocks, the sportsman should be provided with 
much larger. 
“ Towards the commencement of, and during the 
continuance of the winter, the capercailzies are gene- 
rally in packs ; these, which are usually composed 
wholly of cocks, (the liens keeping apart,) do not se- 
parate until the approach of spring. Tliese packs, 
which are sometimes said to contain fifty or a hun- 
dred birds, usually hold to the sides of the numerous 
