88 SHOOTING AT THE LEK. 



barbarity of the sport — if such it can be called — consists 

 in this : that the wounded must remain on the ground 

 along with the slain until the massacre is entirely over ; 

 for should the fowler previously leave his place of con- 

 cealment, the rest of the birds would, in all probability, 

 desert the " lek-stalle," at least for that day. 



Pontoppidan, in his peculiar way, thus describes the 

 proceedings of both fowler and birds at the pairing- 

 ground : " The most convenient time for shooting the 

 Black-Grouse," says the good Bishop, " is in the sjn'ing 

 of the year, at early sunrising, for then the bird lies on 

 the smooth ground, from whence it is called Leecj-vold ; for 

 it is the nature of it, at tliat season, to be quite heedless 

 through its amorous disposition, and with its eyes shut it 

 lies crowing and chirping for the hen. These commonly 

 lie three or four, or more, together, so that there is a good 

 mark to aim at. If the cock falls, then all the hens fly 

 away ; but if he stands still crowing, and appears to be 

 stupid, as is sometimes the case, they shoot again." — 

 {English Translatioti, p. 69.) 



Accidents, though rare, occur now and then at the 

 Black-Cock lek. We read, for instance, "that a Kri/pskytt, 

 or poacher, heard one evening a Black-Cock ' spel,' and 

 crept, like a snake in the grass, towards it. Although 

 it was then getting dark, he presently discovered what 

 lie took to be the red comb of the bird, and immediately 

 levelled his gun and fired. But at the instant there arose 

 a cry of distress ; and on hastening to the spot he found 

 to his dismay that, instead of a Black-Cock, he had hit a 

 brother poacher, bent on the same errand as himself. 

 The sufferer wore dark blue gaiters, which, agreeably to 

 the fashion of the country, were secured to his legs by red 

 garters tied in large bows ; and no wonder, therefore, that 

 our friend mistook all this finery for the Black-Cock's comb. 

 Eortunately for the sufferer, he was standing somewhat 



