THE BLACK GROUSE. 349 



rock or height, and strut and crow with their curious note, 

 not unlike that of a Wood Pigeon. On these occasions 

 they often have most desperate battles. I have seen five 

 or six Black Cocks all fighting at once ; and so violent and 

 eager were they, that I approached within a few yards 

 before they rose. Usually there seems to be a master-bird 

 in these assemblages, who takes up his position on the 

 most elevated spot, crowing and strutting round and round 

 with spread-out tail like a Turkey Cock, and his wings 

 trailing on the ground. The hens remain quietly near 

 him, whilst the smaller or younger male birds keep at 

 a respectful distance, neither daring to crow, except in a 

 subdued kind of voice, nor to approach. If they attempt 

 the latter, the master-bird dashes at the intruder, and often 

 a short mblee ensues, several others joining in it, but they 

 soon return to their former respectful distance. I have 

 also seen an old Black Cock crowing on a birch-tree with 

 a dozen hens below it, and the younger Cocks looking on 

 with fear and admiration. It is at these times that num- 

 bers fall to the share of the poacher, who knows that the 

 birds resort to the same spot every morning." 



The food of these birds is abundant in quantity, and 

 though simple, yet partakes of an extensive assortment 

 of flavours. Twigs of the fine-leaved heath (Erica cinerea), 

 and heather (Calluna) ; buds of the willow and birch ; 

 the tender shoots of cotton-grass, sedge, and grass; and 

 whortleberries, cranberries, and crowberries, are the prin- 

 cipal items of their bill of fare, varied according to the 

 season. In the months of February, March, and April, 

 they do much mischief to plantations by destroying the 

 tender shoots of Scotch and Silver Fir. " In searching 

 for food, the Black Grouse frequents the lower grounds 

 of the less-cultivated districts, not generally removing far 

 from the shelter of woods or thickets, to which it be- 

 takes itself as occasion requires. It sometimes makes an 

 excursion into the stubble-fields in search of the seeds of 



