Page:Round the Yule Log.djvu/92

 A DAY WITH THE CAPERCAILZIES. Early in May — this was long before the game laws had been hatched — we started on our way to Skjcersjohaug, according to local tradition the place where we were most likely to see the capercailzies and their play.* There were four of us, — my friend the captain, myself, an old sportsman from Sognedale, called Peter Sandaker, and a smart boy, who had charge of two brace of hounds. We were to try for a hare, as soon as our sport with the capercailzies was over. Down in the valley spring had fairly set in, but when we reached the top of the hill, we found snow still lying on the ground and in deep drifts in the hollows. The evening was still very warm, and the birds in the woods were singing in praise of spring. When we came near the Ask Dairy,* where we intended to spend the night, we turned off into Skjcer- sjohaug, a hill well known to every sportsman who has roamed through these woods. We made for this hill for the purpose of finding out where the capercailzies went to roost for the night. When we reached the top of the hill we had a fine view before us. The sun was about to set, and cast his golden beams across a cloudless sky. The landscape before us was not of a friendly or inviting character; dark forests stretched interminably over the ^ In the pairing season the capercailzie cock stations himself in a fir-tree and commences his love song, or ** play," as it is termed in Norway, to attract the hens about him. He begins his play with a call something resembling, PelUr, peller^ pelier, which he repeats at short intervals for about a minute ; he then makes a sort of gobble in his throat, and finishes with snapping his beak. During the latter part of his performance, his head is thrown up, his eyes are partially closed, and his faculties much absorbed. This is the best time to approach him. ^ In the summer months the Norwegian farmers send their cattle up to their mountain pastures, very often many miles from the farmhouses. Each farmer has there his " setter '* or dairy, a small building where the milk is kept and the butter and cheese are made, and where the dairymaid lives during these months. For the lest of the vear these dairies are deserted.