THE WOOD GROUSE OR CAPERCAILZIE. 143 
lakes and morasses with which the northern forests 
abound ; and to stalk the same in the winter-time 
with a good rifle is no ignoble amusement. 
“ Among other e.xpedients resorted to in tlie 
northern forests, for the destruction of the capercailzie, 
is the following : — During the autumnal months, af- 
ter flushing and dispersing the brood, people place 
themselves in ambush, and imitate the cry of the old 
or young birds, as circumstances may require. By 
thus attracting them to the spot, they are often en- 
abled to shoot the whole brood in succession. The 
manner in which this is practised may be better un- 
derstood from what Mr Greiff says on the subject. 
“ ‘ After the brood has been dispersed, and you 
see the growth they have acquired, the dogs are to 
be bound up, and a hut formed precisely on the spot 
where the birds were driven from, in which you 
place yourself to call ; and you adapt your call ac- 
cording to the greater or less size of your young 
birds. When they are as large as the hen, you ought 
not to begin to call until an hour after they have 
been flushed ; should you wish to take them alive 
the common net is placed round him wlio calls. To- 
wards the quarter the hen flies, there are seldom to 
be found any of the young birds, for she tries by her 
cackling to draw the dogs after her, and from her 
young ones. As long as you wish to shoot, you 
must not go out of your hut to collect the birds you 
have shot. When the hen answers the call, or lows 
like a cow, she has either got a young one with her 
