7 s THE PAIRING SEASON. 



can see several hundreds depart together, in case a westerly 

 or south-westerly storm sets in." 



Once more : " When packs of these birds are seen 

 high in the air," writes Dr. Odman, " directing their 

 course towards the SkdrgArd (the belt of islands girding 

 in places the Swedish coast), the common people say : 

 6la>i(lniit(/('H drager Orrarne till siff, that is, the inha- 

 bitants of the Island of Olaud draw to themselves the 

 Black-Cocks. 



The partial migrations of these birds have created 

 considerable interest amongst naturalists and others, and 

 many are the speculations hazarded as to their cause. 

 They can hardly be attributable to heavy snow storms, 

 great droughts, or extensive fires in the forest, alleged by 

 some as the reason why the Capercali sometimes desert 

 the forests of the far north ; but more likely on the grounds 

 assumed by M. Ekstrorn, who says : 



"These autumnal migrations, which occur immediately 

 after the birds have packed in October, are probably for 

 the purpose of seeking distant districts where the birch- 

 tree abounds, as its buds then constitute their principal 

 nourishment. Their migrations in the spring, again, are 

 a natural consequence of the desire felt by them to 

 propagate their species, which causes them to return to 

 their own pairing-grounds." 



The Black-Cock is polygamous, and in the pairing 

 season, as with the Capercali, has its "lek-stiille," or 

 pairing-ground. A morass, a "clearing" in the forest, or it 

 may be the frozen surface of a lake, is usually selected, 

 and to the self-same locality, unless subject to unusual 

 disturbance, the birds resort for years together. 



The pairing season with the Black-Cock takes place 

 somewhat earlier than with the Capercali ; in the more 

 central and soul hern portion of the peninsula it usually 

 about tlie middle <>!' March, or perhaps some- 



