144 THE WOOD CHOUSE OR CAPERCAILZIE. 
or the calling is incorrect ; or else she has been 
frightened, and will not then quit her place. A 
young hen answers more readily to the call than an 
old one.’ 
“ In other instances, the capercailzie is shot in tlie 
night-time, by torch-light. This plan, which is said 
to be very destructive, is, I believe, confined to the 
southern provinces of Sweden, for in the more 
northern parts of that country I never heard of its 
being adopted. 
“ In Smaland and Ostergothland, this is said to 
be effected in the following manner: — Towards night- 
fall, people watch the last flight of the capercailzie 
before they go to roost. The direction they have 
taken into the forest is then carefully marked, by 
means of a prostrate tree, or by one which is felled 
especially for the purpose. After dark, two men 
start in pursuit of the birds : one of them is provided 
with a gun, the other with a long pole, to either end 
of which a flambeau is attached. The man with the 
flambeau now goes in advance, the other remaining 
at the prostrate tree, to keep it, and the two lights 
in an exact line with each other ; by this curious con- 
trivance they cannot well go astray in the forest. 
Thus they proceed, occasionally halting, and taking 
a fresh mark, until they come near to the spot where 
they may have reason to suppose the birds are roost- 
ing. They now carefully examine the trees ; and 
when they discover the objects of their pursuit, which 
are said stupidly to remain gazing at the fire biazing 
