CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 87 



is for the male to forage for the female and supply 

 her with food, so we waited for the return of the 

 cock bird with probably a small bird in his claws. 



Talk about patience! If ever it was wanted, it 

 was in this particular instance ; for when I tell you 

 that at about 2 p.m. we were ready in our position, 

 and that it was close upon 7 p.m. before the cock 

 bird returned, you can imagine we were fairly tired 

 out. 



The keeper, understanding that if he got the 

 chance instead of myself, he was not to wait for me 

 but to take it, just caught a glimpse of the bird, 

 took a snap shot at it in the wood, and, luckily, 

 brought it down. It was a difficult shot and a good 

 one. It was too late to do anything more that 

 evening. As it was I had great difficulty in 

 catching the last train back to Oban. 



Next morning I was out again at the same spot 

 with the keeper, and after selecting a position in the 

 wood which I thoug-ht would g-ive me a good shot 

 at the hen if he drove her off her nest, I whistled or 

 made a sign to him when ready, the result being 

 that she flew past me in the wood, and I got her. 



Howard Saunders says : " The breeding range 

 extends as far north as the limits of forest growth, 

 and southwards it reaches to the Mediterranean. 

 It is resident in the Canaries, North Africa, 

 and Egypt as far as Assouan. In Asia it is found 

 across Siberia to the Pacific and Japan, and even 

 breeds sparingly as far south as Cashmere and the 

 Himalayas," etc. 



