GAME BIRDS. 181 
enemy of the sea-birds, ravens, falcons, &c., had been 
killed off by the tenant of the rock, that his own gains 
might be multiplied. Without their natural checks the 
sea-fowl increased beyond the resources which either the 
rock or the sea in the immediate neighbourhood could 
yield, and at the time of their annual migration in Sep- 
tember, old and young died off in thousands, literally 
covering the sea for miles with their dead bodies. 
The grouse disease may be attributed to the same 
destruction of nature’s police, the birds of prey, who if 
they had been left alone would have wed out the weakly 
birds, leaving the strongest to continue the race, whereas 
the sportsman does the contrary, killing the strong 
flying bird that rises first. When will game-preservers 
learn to value their best friends? 
In addition to the ordinary plumage we have two 
varieties. All male birds possess a small tuft of feathers 
springing from over each ear, though a casual observer 
might fail to detect them; but a variety occurs in which 
these tufts (each composed of seven or eight feathers), 
are much lengthened, and form two prominent horns, 
especially conspicuous when the bird is excited, and 
giving it quite an imposing appearance. The most dis- 
tinct variety is one with a ring of white round the neck, 
clear and well defined. It was introduced on the Rufford 
estate some years ago, and has so greatly increased that 
it is now commonly met with. Individuals irregularly 
pied with white are occasionally seen. 
A very singular variety was shot several years ago 
near Edwinstowe, and was shown to me by the person 
who shot it; it was a cock bird, but the whole of the 
plumage was stone-coloured, with the usual black mark- 
ings on the feathers. 
