62 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



was elevated, his wings drooped, his tail curled over his 

 back, and every feather even down to his toes was 

 spread to its fullest extent. After bowing all round, 

 and apparently being satisfied that no one wished to 

 dispute his title to be considered the greatest swell 

 present, he proceeded to execute a kind of pas seul, 

 which seemed to consist of a double shuffle, hop, skip, 

 and a jump, and was concluded by an almost complete 

 somersault. Four others then advanced towards the 

 open ground, two coming from either side. These 

 went through something like a set figure ; advanced, 

 bowed, turned round, jumped over one another's 

 heads, turned round, bowed again, and then retired. 



Several more then joined in the performances, and 

 the proceedings were brought to a satisfactory termi- 

 nation by the whole of the actors advancing, bowing, 

 passing one another, turning round, bowing again, and 

 then separating. 



After this they broke up into small parties, and 

 dispersed themselves over the ground. 



There was little or no real fighting ; but this may 

 possibly be accounted for, as it was only about the 

 middle of December, and I believe the fiercest battles 

 are usually stated to take place in the spring. 



I have occasionally noticed gatherings on a smaller 

 scale in the evening. 



The specimens in the case were shot on the Inner- 

 wick Moors, in Glenlyon, in Perthshire, in December, 

 1867. 



