The grouse pursues a different method. He strives to incite 
his mate to amourous moods by chasing her about. But she is 
“coy,” and will tolerate this for hours at a time, apparently 
intent on nothing more than seeking something interesting to 
eat, she seems to affect to be quite unaware of the presence of her 
importunate mate; though her behaviour is belied by the fact 
« > 
that she keeps up a continuous “ cheeping”’ note, heard only at 
this time of the year. Every now and then he will vary his 
tactics by leaping up into the air and taking an upward flight of 
from twenty to thirty feet, crowing vociferously. On alighting 
he will commence his addresses again. Then, perhaps, she 
herself will take to flight, darting off and twisting like a snipe, 
evidently enjoying her tantalizing tactics. He follows in close 
pursuit, in the hope, doubtless, of satisfying his desires, when she 
shallcometorest. Here isa “‘ courtship ” flight of longer duration, 
in which both sexes participate. 
The “ musical ride ” of the snipe is of a much more imposing 
character: and in this, again, both sexes take a part. During 
this performance, which affords some thrilling moments to the 
bird-lover, the bird ascends to a great height, and then plunges 
“‘ nose-dive ” accompanied by a weird 
earthwards in a terriffic 
bleating noise, comparable to the bleat of a goat. For long 
years discussion waged furiously as to the source of this sound. 
Some held that it was produced by the voice: others by the 
