222 ITS LEK. 



marshy ground," says Dr. Soderberg, " so it also selects 

 such for its 'Lek-stalle.' That with which I am particularly 

 acquainted, is situated on the outskirts of an extensive 

 morass, studded here and there with bushes, where the 

 ground is open and dry, and low sedge-grass grows between 

 the tussocks. On the same spot, which cannot be more than 

 1,000 to 1,200 feet in circumference, they have held their 

 ' Lek' for several consecutive years ; and though there 

 are equally favourable localities in the vicinity, I could 

 never discover that they had any other place of rendez- 

 vous than the one in question. 



" At dusk the birds begin to collect from all parts of 

 the surrounding country.* For some time they keep per- 

 fectly quiet, and concealed among the grass, where they 

 lie so close that one may almost trample on them before 

 they can be induced to rise on the wing. When, however, 

 night has fairly set in, the *Lek' commences somewhat 

 in the manner of that of the Black-Cock, and in this 

 wise : — They strike up together a slow whistling sort of 

 song, which nearly resembles the squeaking of mice. The 

 first simple notes, which may be expressed by hi), hij, hij, hfi, 

 gradually increase in rapidity and sharpness, and finally 

 become confusedly mixed up, and finish with several 

 clear and long-drawn f'ln-inn, which are not without a 

 certain melody. During the song, some one individual 

 joins in with a sort of hass, like an air-bubble which 

 bursts on rising to the surface of the water ; and I at 

 first imagined that it proceeded from a bird running 

 through a puddle. This note is even more distinctly 



* Curiously enough, all tlie birds frequenting these rendezvous are 

 believed to proceed to them on foot. M. Gardain tells us, indeed, that 

 though he repau-ed to a ' Lek-stalle' at so early an hour as five o'clock in 

 the afternoon, he could not observe any to arrive there flying; liut that 

 later in the evening, when the ' Lek ' commenced, a great number took 

 ))art in it. 



