GROUSE 119 



victor} 7 by chasing his opponent to a short distance, 

 when he finds to his surprise that his adversary is not 

 so completely humbled as he expected, and is himself 

 in turn attacked and utterly routed. These running- 

 conflicts may perhaps last for some time, if the birds 

 are evenly matched, and no one takes so keen an interest 

 in them, or is more highly delighted at all the row that 

 is going on, than the lady herself : she runs backwards 

 and forwards, chuckling to herself, as if it were a matter 

 of supreme indifference to her as to which should ulti- 

 mately win, provided there is a good fight for her. Although 

 Grouse are not naturally armed with such a powerful 

 weapon of attack and defence as Capercaillie or Blackcock, 

 yet they sometimes contrive to maim each other so 

 severely as to be completely blinded and rendered quite 

 helpless from the injuries inflicted to their eyes. 1 



1 Contests in which more than two take part are unusual. On one 

 occasion I saw four cocks all engaged at one time : at first three of them 

 were chasing the fourth unfortunate, presumably a younger cock, whom 

 they considered had no right to be there ; but after a bit the latter bird 

 got into a good defensive position on a grassy knoll, where he stood his 

 ground so well against unequal odds, that at length the other three accepted 

 him as being worthy of their attacks, and commenced turning their attention 

 to one another. So furiously did they fight for some moments that one old 

 fellow, who had evidently made up his mind not to give way an inch, reeled 

 up and fell exhausted against a peat-hag, where he contemplated with 

 nodding head and halting breath the action of the others, till he had gained 

 sufficient breath to enable him to get on his legs and go in again. The hen 

 meanwhile never ceased running round and round the combatants, uttering 

 as she did so her peculiar cheeping note, and she did not seem at all 

 distressed at the quarrels and jealousies which her presence had roused. 

 Most unfortunately I did not get an opportunity of witnessing the termina- 

 tion of this interesting battle, as my dog " Jet " had, unknown to me, also 

 become interested in the proceedings, and seeing the birds in front tumbling 

 about in a distressing manner, very naturally came to the conclusion that it 



