ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 555 



Blackgame appear to have been destroyed by tremendous 

 torrents of rain, the hens have suddenly returned to the 

 trysting-places, and the love-songs of the cocks are ringing 

 out again just as lustily as in the ordinary season. 



From half-past three in the morning until five or six 

 o'clock one sees the brave champions fighting and challenging, 

 so that in this locality the Blackcock have been drumming on 

 the regular spots close to the shooting-screens from a week 

 before the commencement of the legal shooting-season in the 

 end of February up to its close on the 31st of May, and will 

 very liKely continue to do so well into June. 



