132 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



it nevertheless has the property of carrying an astounding 

 distance. I have heard it across the width of both Loch 

 Tay and Loch Ken — seeming quite as loud as when one 

 is within one hundred yards of the vocalist. 



While the cock bird utters this note, he spreads his 

 forked tail and scrapes his wings, puffed out to enormous 

 size like a turkey cock, his eyebrows flaming brick red 

 — truly a terrifying and inspiring monster to behold ! In 

 the meantime the grey hens may be seen creeping demurely 

 about in the undergrowth with an obviously assumed 

 air of indifference, but at the same time taking good care 

 to show themselves at intervals. 



The courtship of grouse of all kinds takes place chiefly 

 in the very early morning, before there is sufficient Hght 

 for objects to be seen clearly, and the polygamous members 

 of the species, exemplified in Great Britain by black- 

 game and capercaillie, have recognized places to which 

 they return day after day and year after year for their 

 day break meetings. In a way it is a distinct ceremony, 

 and has its exact counterpart in some of the ceremonies 

 and orgies of uncivilized man and in wild animals of 

 the higher order, such as the gregarious apes. It is, as 

 it were, significant of the dawning of social custom, and 

 we have further examples afforded by the meeting of the 

 jackal clans and by the noisy social gatherings of the 

 rook colonies at certain seasons. 



The polygamous grouse, however, meet with a fixed 

 object in view — the cock birds to swagger and fight it 

 out among each other in the most approved Stone Age 

 style. The selected place might, indeed, be termed the 

 tournament ground, for here the knight errants tilt at 

 each other till the proved victor has established sufficient 

 authority to enable him to march off in possession of the 

 ladies. It cannot, of course, be said that the contests 

 are conducted under the eye of a referee on Marquis of 



