THE BLACK GROUSE 



LYRURUS TETRIX 



CoiLEACH-DTJBH (Blttck-cock), Cearc liath (Grey-hen) {Gaelic) ; Coq 

 DE BRUYkRE (French); Birkiiahn {German). 



The Black Grouse is more cosmopolitan in its habits than 

 the Capercaillie. Almost equally at home on the heather- 

 clad hillside as among the thick forests of pine, it is found 

 distributed pretty generally through the country of the 

 hills. Whereas in the Highlands of Scotland the Black 

 Grouse prefers the forests of pine and the glens wooded 

 with birches as its country, on the moorlands of Nor- 

 thumberland it frequents the open hillsides, the stone 

 walls which abound in that district being much sought 

 after as perching stations, and what woods there are being 

 apparently avoided. 



The most interesting feature in the life of the Black 

 Grouse is the early morning combats which take place day 

 after day with great regularity between the cocks of the 

 species. The same fighting-ground is always frequented, 

 and the combats are engaged in not only during the mating 

 season, as might be expected, but during nearly the whole 

 of the year. In fact, a stalker of my acquaintance who has 

 had great experience of Black-cock, tells me that they fight 

 most energetically during cold frosty mornings in early 

 December. 



During the months of July and August there is a lull 

 in the combats, but with the approach of autumn the 

 " sparring " is recommenced, though in a milder form 

 than that witnessed later on in the year. The fighting- 



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