156 OUR RARER BIRDS 



whilst here and there the patches of reeds and rushes and 

 the alder clumps mark the .marshy districts. Indeed, the 

 Black Grouse shows a strange partiality for the swamps, and 

 loves the rough ground and wild ravines through which the 

 rush-fringed trout-streams dance and gurgle, and where the 

 silver birches hang over the dark pools, and the bushes and 

 tall rank vegetation grow in wild uncurbed luxuriance. The 

 Black Grouse is never found far away from water, and may 

 frequently be flushed from the dense reed tufts in the 

 swamps. 



The Black Grouse is polygamous, and the female alone 

 undertakes the charge of the eggs and the young brood. The 

 males live at peace with each other for the greater part of 

 the year, but early in April a great change comes over them, 

 and civil war may be said to reign supreme until the females 

 have laid their eggs. Some particular spot is chosen in their 

 haunts, where the birds of both sexes congregate ; and a visit 

 to such a place is of never-failing interest to him who loves 

 to study the ways and doings of birds. Eepair to such a 

 meeting -place a little before dawn, and carefully conceal 

 yourself amongst the surrounding vegetation, when you will 

 be able to watch the actions of the birds with ease. 



It is just before daybreak. A warm glimmer lights up 

 the eastern heavens, and the gentle morning breezes rustle 

 through the pine branches ; surrounding objects are becoming 

 more distinct every moment, and the few early notes of the 

 Stormcock from the neighbouring alders, and the cry of a 

 noisy Blackbird just hopped from its roosting-place in the 

 hollies down in the hollow, tell you that morning is at hand. 

 See ! the Curlews are astir, and the Lapwings are just waking 

 up on the rough fallows. But your observations and musings 

 are interrupted by the flapping noise of wings and the 

 approach of a dark heavy bird. It is a Blackcock coming 

 to the pairing-station to pay his morning courtship to fight 



