CHAPTER THREE THE GROUSE 



cocks in the early morning, wlien theycoUect on some roclc 

 or height, and strut and crow with their curious note not 

 unlike that ofa wood-pigeon. On these occasions they often 

 have most desperate battles. I have seen five or six black- 

 cocksall fighting at once, and so intent and eager were they, 

 that I approached within a few yards before they rose. Usual- 

 ly there seems to be a master-bird in these assemblages, who 

 takes up his position on the most elevatedspot,crowingand 

 struttinground and round with spread-out tail like aturkey- 

 cock,andhiswings 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 crovv,except 

 in a subdued kind of voice, or to approach the hens. If they 

 attempt the latter, the master-bird dashes at the intruder, 

 and often a short melee ensues, several others joining in 

 it, but they soon return to their former respectful distance. 

 I have also seen an old blackcock crowing on a birch-tree 

 with a dozen hens below it, and the younger cocks looking 

 on in fear andadmiration. It is at these times that numbers 

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

 resort to the same spot every morning. 



Strong as the blackcock is, he is often killed by the 

 peregrine falcon and the hen-harrier. When pursued by 

 these birds, I have known the blackcock so frightened as 

 to allow himself to be taken by the hand. I once caught one 

 myself who had been driven by a falcon into the garden, 

 where he took refuge under a gooseberry bush and re- 

 mained quiet till I picked him up. I kept him for a day or 

 two, and then, as he did not get reconciled to his prison, I 

 turned him loose to try his fortune again in the woods. 



43 



