84 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



when of course the unsophisticated child of the forest 

 went to make friends with the vagrant, as was his wont 

 with all new-comers. But the cur either misconstrued 

 his motives, or imagined he was too good and pure a thing 

 for this wicked world, and so promptly sent him on a 

 journey to the next, where we hope his confidences were 

 not misplaced. 



Blackgame are very silent birds except in spring, and 

 it is seldom one hears them utter any note whatever at 

 other seasons of the year. Last year, during a drive for 

 Blackgame, an old cock came sailing along the hill below, 

 calling his whirring note as loudly as he could, as if he 

 had lost himself, and was hunting for the others, not 

 knowing where to go. This my respected parent, who 

 was the gun over which he passed, succeeded in showing 

 him to the subsequent advantage of the bag. This is the 

 only time I ever heard one utter any loud call during the 

 autumn or winter months. You hear the cocks on rising 

 sometimes utter a quiet guttural note to one another, as 

 much as to say, "Now it's about high time we were off" ; 

 but that is all. The Greyhen gives a "gack, gack" now and 

 then : I have never heard her make any other vocal efforts. 



Hawks and other vermin do not affect Blackgame 

 seriously after they are able to take care of themselves 

 properly. Falcons may, perhaps, stoop and occasionally 

 kill a few. Stoats and weasels are too busy looking after 

 the hares and rabbits and mice, if there is a sufficient 

 number of these to supply their fastidious tastes ; 

 if not, Grouse are generally the victims, their flesh 

 having a far greater attraction for birds and beasts of prey 

 than that of their larger brethren. Scotch keepers 



