GAME-BIRDS 



the two birds is further shown by the fact of their interbreeding freely. 

 In Great Britain blackcock at the present day are widely distributed 

 in Scotland and the north of England, and also occur locally in many 

 parts of the south, notably Somerset and Devon, as well as in the 

 Kew Forest. In Tudor times they occurred at Eltham, in Kent, 

 and in VVolmer Forest. From the latter area they had, however, 

 become e.xterminated when Gilbert White wrote his Selborne, but 

 the\' have been reintroduced there, as well, apparently, as in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Guildford in Surrey, whence they have spread to some of 

 the adjacent counties. The moors of Cornwall are also .sanctuaries 



for the species, which like- 

 wise lingered in Leicester- 

 shire, and near Sandring- 

 ham, as well as in other 

 localities too numerous to 

 mention. In Wales the 

 species appears to be indi- 

 genous only in Montgomery- 

 shire ; but a few occur in 

 most other counties except 

 Anglesey. Among the isles 

 of the north of Scotland 

 blackcock are still numerous 

 in Islay, although they have 

 long since disappeared from 

 Gigha, where they once oc- 

 curred. The species appears 

 to have been alwaj's un- 

 known in Ireland, and whenever introduced there invariably dies out 

 in a short time. Possibly the climate is too mild. 



Pine-woods and birch-forests are the home of the blackcock in 

 many parts of Scotland, but in more southern districts it has perforce 

 to dwell on the open moors, to which, as well as to stubble-fields, it 

 al.so resorts to feed in the north. Where its home is among woods, 

 the blackcock is indeed almost as much an arboreal bird as is the 

 capercaillie ; and, like the latter, it is also a polygamous species, the 

 cocks at the beginning of the breeding-season selecting particular spots 

 for displaying themselves before their coveys of grej'hens, and likewise 

 engaging in contests for the possession of the latter. During the time 

 of this spel or lek the scarlet patches above the eyes of the cocks 

 become .so swollen as to ri.sc above the crown of the head, and then 



FOOT OK BLACKCOCK. 



