THE BLACK GROUSE. 7 



rush are largely eaten, stubble fields are gleaned in the autumn, and in spring 

 the young shoots of trees are devoured, and ants' eggs are also great favourites 

 with these birds.* During the autumn and winter the males live together in small 

 flocks ; before the breeding season they separate, and engage in desperate combats, 

 fighting in much the same manner as the domestic cock. The singular habits of 

 these birds in the spring has been more carefully observed and described by Mr. 

 Booth, in his " Rough Notes," than by any other writer. He says : 



" In fine weather, during winter and early spring, the oldest birds collect at 

 daybreak on some open spot, and go through the most extraordinary manoeuvres ; 

 at times these performances appear to be indulged in simply for amusement ; as 

 spring advances, however, the animosity of the birds increases. In December, 

 1867, having frequently watched these gatherings from a distance without a chance 

 of closely inspecting the whole of the proceedings, I carefully marked the place 

 (a bare spot on a heather-clad slope of the hill side, facing towards the south) 

 where the birds had collected for several mornings in succession, and determined 

 to make an attempt to witness their antics at close quarters. The ground having 

 been previously looked over and a good hiding-place decided upon, we arrived on 

 the spot an hour before daybreak, and creeping into a regular nest of rugs and 

 plaids which the keepers had arranged, I was covered well over with dry heather and 

 brakes, and finally sprinkled with snow. The men were then sent away, and I quietly 

 awaited the course of events. Shortly after the first streak of light had appeared 

 in the east a rush of wings was heard, and a magnificent old Black-cock passing 

 within a few feet of my head, settled on the open space some twenty yards in 

 front. For fully ten minutes there were no other arrivals, and I began to fear 

 some other spot had been chosen for the day's amusement ; suddenly three or 

 four more old cocks appeared on the scene, having probably alighted quietly on 

 the other side of the brae. For a few moments they remained silently watching 

 one another, apparently waiting for a signal from the leader. I next caught sight 

 of two or three small parties flying high in the air, direct from the hills, on the 

 opposite side of a steep burn. After circling once round the spot they alighted 

 lower down on the hill, and some of them, principally Grey-hens, remained where 

 they settled, while the males gradually ascended the rising ground, picking their 

 way with the greatest care, carrying their tails high over their backs, either to 

 show themselves to the greatest advantage, or to avoid contact with the snow. 

 These were speedily followed by others, and they kept on gathering, till between 

 thirty and forty more were collected in a kind of irregular circle. The old cock 



* The crop of a male killed by accident in February was partly filled with the leaves of the buttercup. 

 It also contained buds of birch and willow. H.A.M. 



