81 IN CONFINEMENT. 



beu, whicli hatched them ; but the chicks only survived 

 for three days." 



The Black-Cock. is easily domesticated, aud if reared 

 from a chick, or taken when young, soon becomes quite 

 tame — more so even than the Capercali. We read of one, 

 indeed, that was accustomed to sit on' the shoulder of his 

 owner and accompany him over the estate ; and if it then 

 hai">pened that other Black-Cocks were seen in the distance, 

 it would leave its perch and fly to them, though always 

 to return after the visit was paid. 



At different times I myself have bad great numbers 

 of these birds in confinement ; but during the pairing 

 seasons the males gave me much trouble, being then so 

 quarrelsome that, to prevent casualties, I was always 

 obliged to separate them. 



In the rural districts of Sweden one often sees a caged 

 Black-Cock at the houses of the gentry, this bird being 

 greatly admired by every one, both for his beauty and for 

 his spel, or song, which, though perhaps anything but 

 musical, is still wild and pleasing, and, during the pairing 

 season, almost continual. 



When confined in a coop, or aviary, its treatment is 

 very similar to that of the Capercali. It eats freely almost 

 all kinds of grain, and most of the forest berries, especially 

 the juniper : of the Knopp, or incipient bud, of the birch- 

 tree it is also very fond. Water and sand, both coarse 

 and fine, it should never be without. 



The Black-Cock is said to breed readily in confine- 

 ment ; but I myself never tried the experiment, thinking 

 it less troublesome to procure young birds from the 

 forest in the autumn. 



