28 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GROUSE 



seven grew up, and about October the cock birds seem 

 to have made advances to the hens, and their overtures 

 doubtless being taken by the latter as inopportune out 

 of season they modestly levanted. There remained 

 three cocks, all in splendid plumage and condition, 

 feeding, be it remembered, entirely on pheasants' food 

 and what they could pick up about the house. One of 

 the birds remained in the corner of the field where 

 the coop had stood, taking possession of it for himself. 

 Here at all times he was to be seen ready to dispute 

 his ground with anyone passing near it. Usually he 

 challenged with a call, and then, if approached, he 

 was ready either for a fight or to be fed, or both any- 

 thing that suited the whim of the intruder. One day, 

 when I was giving some maize to my friend, the keeper 

 came up, and going on all fours, began throwing grass 

 in the face of the bird. At once the grouse responded 

 to the challenge by flying at him, coming up sideways, 

 and using his spurs. The bird allowed itself repeatedly 

 to be caught, and the moment he was liberated re- 

 turned again and again to the unequal combat. More 

 than once have I seen this same bird fly across from 

 his corner and join us when shooting on the opposite 

 woodland bank, this being some 600 or 700 yards 

 across a narrow neck of sea at the head of a loch. 

 My friend's dogs retrievers and spaniels knew the 



