ITS LEK. 143 



idea that these birds, like the Dal-Ripa, hold something 

 akin to a Lek before the great winter packs disperse 

 in the spring. Their proceedings at that time, however, 

 may not have been sufficiently noticed by persons com- 

 petent to describe them, partly in consequence of the 

 distance being usually considerable from the more habitable 

 part of the country to the fjiills, but chiefly, I take it, 

 because the latter, owing to the breaking up of the frost, 

 are not always in the most traversable state. 



At a more advanced period of the spring, however, by 

 which time, probably, the Ejiill-E-ipa liave for the most 

 part paired, we have ample information as to their pro- 

 ceedings at the " Lek-stalle." " Here, at a very early hour 

 in the morning," says Nilsson, "the male begins to utter 

 his cry, which by Ealier has not inaptly been likened to 

 the croaking of a frog, and by others to the snoring of 

 a man. The female soon replies by a subdued ii-ach 

 ii-ack. The male tlien takes wing and proceeds in searcli 

 of her. It is said, however, he never runs towards her 

 in the manner of the Dal-Uipa, but always flies." 



When the pairing season is over, the female makes 

 her nest amongst stones, or even in the hollow of a stone, 

 or it may be amongst heather, grass, &c., and lays from 

 eight to fourteen yellowish-coloured eggs marked with 

 brown spots. The chicks are hatched about the middle 

 or towards the end of June, though the time much 

 depends on the state of the season. According to 

 M. Barth, they are of very quick growth, " for though in 

 the middle of September they may be distinguished from 

 the old ones as regards size, yet the difference in plumage 

 is but very slight." 



Whilst the female is sitting, the male is said always 

 to remain with her, but as soon as the chicks are out of 

 the shell, he deserts liis family and repairs to the higher 

 ranges of the fjiills, where he joins other males similarly 



