204 



BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



sanctioned by law ; or possibly, in some cases, to deceive 

 the ignorant by boasting of the numbers killed. 



By the middle of September, the young blackcocks 

 have nearly attained their full growth, and are then about 

 three-parts black, with tails beginning to spread. At the 

 period when they attain that stage, they separate them- 

 selves from the young greyhens of the brood, and for a 

 very short time become quite solitary. Being then 

 scattered singly over a wide extent of rough country, they 



Young Blackcock— End of September. 



are more difficult to find than to approach : for, though 

 now nearly full-sized, they will yet lie close in sheltering 

 bracken or rush, or among the white grass with its scant 

 patches of heather. As evening approaches, however, 

 when they begin to feed on the seeds of rushes (especially 

 "spratt,"or flowering-rush), young blackcocks are much 

 wilder than during the day — indeed, unless previously 

 viewed, they are then inaccessible. They continue to feed 

 until it is quite dark. Mid- September, in average years, 

 is the season when young blackcocks afford the finest 



