Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/109

 The Capercalzie is a splendid game bird which is found all over Northern Europe but chiefly in Norway and Sweden. It is the giant of the grouse family. It is colored black but here and there white and red appear in bold dashes. The cock is a much finer bird than the hen. During the mating season the Capercalzie behaves in a very extraordinary manner. Soon after sunrise it perches on the top of a pine tree and begins a song to attract the attention of the hens. During the song it thrusts its neck out, droops its wings, erects it tail and altogether works itself up into a great state of mind. As soon as a hen hears the song she comes running up to see the singer. Other hens also collect and then the Capercalzie comes down from the pine tree and parades about on the ground for their benefit. In this way the Capercalzie collects his family for the season. The Capercalzie becomes so absorbed in his love making that he may be easily approached. If any alarm is given it is nearly always by the hens. The enemies of the Capercalzie know his weakness in mating time so they take advantage of it and the worst of these enemies is the fox. The Capercalzie does not roam all over the forest, but stays in one place which is called the station" but it is always near an open space, a sort of parade ground, consequently the bird often escapes being killed because the distance from the fox's hiding place is too great for it to spring. Directly the fox makes a successful catch the capercalzie screams and struggles and the hens scurry off to safety.

Sometimes a rival Capercalzie tries to entice the hens away and then there is a battle royal in which one of the cocks sometimes gets killed. A hunter who was watching a Capercalzie show himself off before some hens suddenly saw the bird pause and listen. Through the woods came the faint cry of the rival who soon appeared. The Cock already in possession was in a fury. It rushed at its enemy and the two rolled over and over each other on the ground. Then the last comer rose out of the dust and literally drove its enemy from the "station." The hens all crowded around their new master seemingly to have entirely forgotten the poor defeated one. It is said that single Capercalzies with no following of hens are often seen in the forests and it is supposed that the hens will have nothing to do with Capercalzies that have once been defeated, and compel them to lead single lives.

The Capercalzie never seems to come out into the open country but stays in the pine woods which in Sweden are very dark and thick. The bird is largely killed for eating in the different countries as its flesh is very good. The Capercalzie is known by various names such as the Mountain Cock and the Cock of the North.