WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



Like some other wary birds, the blackcock, when flushed 

 at a distance, if you happen to be in his Hne of flight, will 

 pass over your head without turning off, as long as you re- 

 main motionless. In some places, apparently well adapted 

 for these birds, they will never increase, although left un- 

 disturbed and protected, some cause or other preventing 

 their breeding. Where they take well to a place, they in- 

 crease very rapidly, and, from their habit of taking long 

 flights, soon find out the corn-fields, and are very destruct- 

 ive, more so, probably, than any other kind of winged 

 game. A bold bird by nature, the blackcock, when in con- 

 finement, is easily tamed, and soon becomes familiar and 

 attached to his master. In the woods instances are known 

 of the blackcock breeding with the pheasant. I saw a hy- 

 brid of this kind at a bird-stuffer's in Newcastle: it had 

 been killed near AlnwickCastle. The bird was of abeautiful 

 bronzed-brown colour, and partaking in a remarkable de- 

 gree ofthe characteristics of both pheasant and black game. 

 I have heard also of a bird being killed which was suppos- 

 ed to be bred between grouse and black game, but I was 

 by no means satisfied that it was anything but a peculiarly 

 dark-coloured grouse. The difference of colour in grouse is 

 very great, and on different ranges of hills is quite conspic- 

 uous. On some ranges the birds have a good deal of white 

 on their breasts, on others they are nearly black: they also 

 vary very much in size. Our other species of grouse, the 

 ptarmigan, as every sportsman knows, is found only on 

 the highest ranges ofthe H ighlands. Living above all veget- 

 ation.thisbirdfindsits scanty food amongst the loose stones 

 and rocks that cover the summits of Ben Nevis and some 



44 



