PAIRING. 81 



Whilst the cocks are thus indulging in their comba- 

 tive propensities, the hens run to and fro with drooping 

 wings, and uttering a dolorous cry, nek, lick, ack, da, 

 expressive of their anxiety for an embrace. Actual pairing, 

 however, would not seem to take place so much at the 

 "lek-stalle" itself as amongst the surrounding bushes. 



More than one ornithologist tells us that the hens 

 never solicit the favours of the cocks ; but the reverse is 

 the fact, as clearly evidenced by what came under the 

 personal observation of M. Hultman, the owner of the 

 estate of Hycketofta, situated in a wooded district. This 

 gentleman " possessed a tame Black-Cock which had the 

 run of a closely-fenced garden near the house, and at a 

 very early hour in the morning was accustomed to com- 

 mence his spel. When this had continued for a short 

 time, several hens, often as many as four or five, would 

 come flying to him in the garden from the neighbouring 

 forest, with all of whom in succession he regularly paired, 

 as witnessed by M. Hultman from his bedroom window. 

 When, however, the people of the house were up and 

 moving, the hens would fly back to the woods, though 

 always to return on the following morning." 



To continue. Matters thus proceed until sunrise> 

 when the birds fly up into the neighbouring trees, where, 

 for a time, the cocks are silent, as if resting from their 

 labours. But presently they descend once more to the 

 ground, and for a short period the game goes on as 

 merrily as ever.* 



The lek over, the birds separate, each cock accompanied 

 by the ladies of his harem. f 



* The spel before sunrise is called Morgon-spel, or morning spel ; that 

 after the sun has risen, Sol-spel, or Sun spel ; whilst that in the afternoon 

 for when the season is advanced, the Black-Cock occasionally " opens his 

 pipes" is termed QuaU-spef, or evening spel. 



t In districts where these birds are so shot down that only a few stragglers 



G 



