THE GAME-BIRDS. 



253 



inhabit the New Forest as apocryphal, though they are 

 doubtless to be found by those enjoying greater oppor- 

 tunities of visiting the more secluded shades of that en- 

 chanting waste. As already said, this bird agrees closely 

 in habits with its larger congener, and notably in the 

 curious spring tournaments and "spels," being also, like 

 the capercailzie, both pugnacious and polygamous. Con- 



tinental sportsmen take advantage of the love ecstasies 

 of both these birds to shoot them from ambush ; and 

 in the case of the capercailzie a good deal of manoeuvring 

 seems to be necessary, as the love-song lasts only for a 

 few seconds, and unless engaged in singing or otherwise 

 showing off to the hens, the bird is very alive to danger. 

 Buds, seeds, and grain are the chief food of this bird. 

 The black grouse breeds with almost all our other game- 

 birds, and some remarkable fertile hybrids are the result. 



