THE CAPERCAILZIE 
with them in the open she will gather her brood 
under her wings, make a hissing noise, and puff 
herself out, boldly facing the intruder. 
The young are covered with a huffish yellow 
down, mottled with chestnut brown. They do not 
like the heat of the sun, and in summer they may 
be found sheltering themselves under over-hanging 
banks, trying to escape from it. Their mother feeds 
them with ants and ant-eggs, worms and small beetles, 
and they catch small flies for themselves. They are 
able to run about soon after leaving the nest, but 
they keep with their mother until the following 
winter. 
When the Capercailzie has grown out of baby- 
hood he feeds largely on the needles and young buds 
of the pine and the fir-trees. It is said that he does 
much damage, but it is likely that he is often blamed 
for mischief done by the squirrel. 
Very curious is his ‘‘spel” or love-song, which 
he sings to his mates in the spring. This takes place 
in the early morning, or after sunset. 
The cock bird mounts upon the branch of some 
tree in an open part of the forest. His wings droop, 
his tail spreads out like a fan, the long feathers on 
