76 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



immediately followed by all the others, who on alighting 

 dance about in the most absurd manner, each one trying 

 to see who can screech the loudest and be the most 

 ridiculous in his antics (see page 85). 



The sight of the Blackcock is supposed to be very keen, 

 and is undoubtedly so at all other times. But at the 

 period of love and war we speak of his senses are often 

 so dulled or excited, by one or the other, that he does 

 not seem able to distinguish a Grouse passing by at a 

 distance from a Greyhen, when the identity of the species 

 can be noticed at a glance bv a human being 1 who is much 



o */ o 



further away from the object. Curiously enough, I never 

 saw them cease their hostilities when a pair of Grouse flew 

 by chasing each other, a single bird flying straight in their 

 direction being always the chief cause of their excitement. 

 On one occasion I saw them mistake a Partridge that came 

 flying out from a wood close by for one of their own 

 species. 



When a hen has alighted on the Playing-ground the 

 male that is nearest to her pairs with her and fights off 

 any other that disputes his possession. The hen mean- 

 while walks sedately round her lord and master, picking 

 about at the grass coquettishly and pretending to be 

 feeding. Each hen on arrival causis the same general 

 excitement, and is appropriated by one or other of the 

 successful cocks, till the harems are filled up, one cock 

 having at times as many as six or seven hens. As the 

 season advances, after the first few mornings of the hens 

 coming to the ground, they resort to the same spot each 

 day, and stay with the same cock who has previously 

 trodden them, and are not interfered with afterwards 



