242 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



being the booing of the males, which may be heard 

 for upwards of a mile, if the weather is still. This 

 sound, which is very peculiar and melodious, much 

 resembles the lowing of a bull, and has frequently 

 been mistaken for it. The noise is made by the cocks 

 forcing air out of the two inflated air-bags which are 

 to be found on either side of their necks. 



Then the large flocks begin to break up and divide 

 into parties of twenty or thirty, each detachment 

 selecting a knoll on which to exhibit their fasci- 

 nations to the fair sex and select partners. On the 

 first indication of day the males utter their war- 

 cry, and either wait to receive their rivals in love or 

 swiftly wing their way to accept the challenge of 

 some distant gallant. The fiercest battles now ensue ; * 

 nor is it only between two, for sometimes a dozen may 

 be observed engaged in the melee, each fearlessly 

 attacking his nearest neighbour, rising and striking 

 with the wings and feet much after the manner of 

 domestic poultry, when feathers fly and severe and 

 numerous injuries are received, till the weaker, 

 finding their strength inadequate to the trial, reluc- 

 tantly retire, and some old veteran alone remains, 



* Until a late date I believed these battles were a description of 

 tournament, in fact, all for show. However, this is not the case, and 

 numbers of the combatants get severely injured. 



