BLACKGAME 



77 



by other cocks, who acknowledge the superior claims of 

 the male to whom they rightfully belong. 



Blackcocks resort to their Playing -ground till the 

 summer is well advanced, and one morning (June 4, 

 1890), when I got up at daybreak to stalk Roe at 

 Eskadale, on opening the window to let in the fresh 

 morning air, much to my delight there were my old 



friends the 

 Blackcocks 

 whir- 

 ring and strut- 

 ting about as 



AUTUMN (Blackgame in the Stubble). 



usual in the grass-field. There were about ten brace 

 of cocks and a solitary hen, and I watched an old 

 cock showing himself off to the latter by running round 

 and round her for fully half an hour, during which 

 time he did not tread her or attempt to do so. She was 

 undoubtedly an old barren bird, as, had she been fruitful, 

 she would have had a nest claimino- her attention at that 

 time. The keeper with whom I was staying (Donald 

 Boss, a most observant naturalist) tells me he has never 

 noticed hens with the cocks so late as this before. 



