THE RELATIONS OF THE SEXES 157 



There is, in fact, no better illustration of this than is furnished 

 by the " gathering of the clans," so to speak, described so 

 graphically and so vivadly by Mr. J. G. Millais, anent Black 

 game in Scotland. 



Their arrival at the tourney-ground, he remarks, which 

 begins soon after daybreak, is preceded by the almost con- 

 tinuous u birring calls of the cocks, calls which he likens to the 

 sounds produced by a luggage train passing over loose metals 

 at a distance, and which are audible at two miles. This call 

 rouses the Grey hens. Soon after, one or two Black cocks 

 put in an appearance on the field, and at once begin to attack 

 one another. Both birds simultaneously lower their heads and 

 arch their tails, the beautiful curled feathers almost touching 

 the ground, while the primary feathers are trailed. This 

 posture may be assumed when the birds are as far as thirty 

 yards apart, when they advance till separated only by a few 

 feet. " Then the actual fighting, if there is to be any, begins. 

 It, however, often happens that, as with our bombastic race, 

 it is all 'gas,' and the two, after skirmishing up to one another 

 with every apparent gesture of rage and fury, by the time that 

 close quarters are arrived at have come to the conclusion that 

 another occasion will do just as well as the present for fighting 

 it out. . . . More often they stand and fence, after the manner 

 of bantams, until one, by superior tact and rapidity, suddenly 

 seizes his adversary by the ' scruff' of the neck, and gives him 

 a right good dusting, handling him in no gentle manner with his 

 strong bill, whilst he beats him over the head with both his 

 wings, the latter making a loud noise. When he who hath 

 come off second best eventually gets clear, he has generally had 

 about enough for the time being, and is either chased igno- 

 miniously off the ground to hide his diminished head in some 

 quiet corner, or wings it off altogether to the nearest wood. 

 This is only temporary, however, for he does not consider that 

 he is altogether vanquished till he has made at least another 

 attempt to display his prowess. The victor gives his plumage 

 a shake, and calmly proceeds to select for himself a position of 

 vantage in the shape of a grassy mound, the possession of 

 which he is now prepared to contest with any opponent who 

 may be bold enough to tackle him ; and if the birds are at all 

 numerous he is not lone in having his wish gratified. He seats 



