434 The Outline of Science 



ceremonies of courtship, often with wonderful "display" of bril- 

 liant plumage or with great exuberance of song, and sometimes 

 there are fierce fights between rival males. The Peacock spreads 

 and erects his magnificent train, the Argus Pheasant displays 

 long plumes on his wings as well as on his tail, and the different 

 Birds of Paradise glow with gorgeousness in their almost every 

 feather. Many a relatively "dowdy" bird as judged by human 

 eyes may also be seen posturing in much the same way as his 

 more ornamental brethren, and we must be chary of denying to 

 any bird strange beauty in the sight of his love ! 



In the ordinary Black Grouse we may find a habit of display 

 as well marked as that of any inhabitant of tropical jungles; it 

 gives, indeed, an example not only of individual display but also 

 of a collective "tournament" in which rival blackcocks strive to 

 impress the greyhens which they wish to win as mates. In Scot- 

 land, say, the fortunate may perhaps witness a gathering of 

 blackcocks at break of day early in the breeding season. The birds 

 assemble in some open spot and indulge in the wild whirring calls 

 that form their song of love and war, and the racket may be heard 

 two miles off. 



Then the tournament begins. It may be mere skirmishing, 

 a display of fencing, or "sparring," or, as sometimes happens, 

 these harmless encounters may develop into fierce fights and 

 sometimes a duel to the death. 



"At intervals during each separate fight, blackcocks emit a 

 curious call ; it is almost a hoarse screech, resembling the noise too 

 painfully familiar to us, namely, that of cats on housetops supple- 

 mented by the said animals being afflicted with sore throats. The 

 sound is both wild and unmusical in the extreme. 



"We will suppose that the observer has come early on the 

 scene, before the greyhens have made their appearance. The ap- 

 proach of one of the latter is the signal for an immediate cessation 

 of hostilities on all sides, and intense excitement prevails amongst 

 the assembled blackcocks. Her approach has been observed by a 



