THE BLACKCOCK 239 



Efforts have been made for several years past 

 to induce the blackcock to breed in the New 

 Forest. To a certain extent the attempt has 

 succeeded, since a few broods are annually hatched 

 and reared, but they do not appear to have in- 

 creased to any very appreciable extent. Why 

 this is so it is difficult to understand, for the con- 

 ditions seem to be most favourable for their well- 

 doing, and no care has been spared to ensure their 

 protection. 



But the blackcock, although it is most common 

 in Scotland, is fairly well distributed over this 

 country. On some of the Devonshire moors they 

 are to be found in considerable numbers. Indeed, 

 these birds are to be found more or less wherever 

 there are wild heaths, and in almost all the 

 Northern counties. 



A blackcock in the springtime, when his ' fancy 

 lightly turns to thoughts of love/ is capable of 

 making himself the very biggest fool in the whole 

 of the bird creation. At such times his antics and 

 vanities are incredibly ludicrous. He is also a re- 

 markably pugnacious bird, and during the pairing 

 season will fight all day, and every day, until he has 

 secured a partner. Sad to say, he is as faithless as 

 he is pugnacious and vain, and soon tires of the 

 society of his wife, whom he quietly deserts, and 

 leaves to manage the housekeeping as best she can, 

 while he goes off to enjoy himself in the company 

 of his male acquaintances, all of whom have treated 

 their spouses in an equally shabby manner. Ac- 



