GAME BIRDS. 181 



enemy of the sea-birds, ravens, falcons, &c., had been 

 killed off by the tenant of the rock, that his own gains 

 might be multiplied. Without their natural checks the 

 sea-fowl increased beyond the resources which either the 

 rock or the sea in the immediate neighbourhood could 

 yield, and at the time of their annual migration in Sep- 

 tember, old and young died off in thousands, literally 

 covering the sea for miles with their dead bodies. 

 The grouse disease may be attributed to the same 

 destruction of nature's police, the birds of prey, who if 

 they had been left alone would have wed out the weakly 

 birds, leaving the strongest to continue the race, whereas 

 the sportsman does the contrary, killing the strong 

 flying bird that rises first. When will game-preservers 

 learn to value their best friends ? 



In addition to the ordinary plumage we have two 

 varieties. All male birds possess a small tuft of feathers 

 springing from over each ear, though a casual observer 

 might fail to detect them ; but a variety occurs in which 

 these tufts (each composed of seven or eight feathers), 

 are much lengthened, and form two prominent horns, 

 especially conspicuous when the bird is excited, and 

 giving it quite an imposing appearance. The most dis- 

 tinct variety is one with a ring of white round the neck, 

 clear and well defined. It was introduced on the Rufford 

 estate some years ago, and has so greatly increased that 

 it is now commonly met with. Individuals irregularly 

 pied with white are occasionally seen. 



A very singular variety was shot several years ago 

 near Edvvinstowe, and was shown to me by the person 

 who shot it ; it was a cock bird, but the whole of the 

 plumage was stone-coloured, with the usual black mark- 

 ings on the feathers. 



