844 



THE NATURE BOOK 



parts of the surrounding forest. The 

 male bird then descends from the eminence 

 on which he was perched, to the ground, 

 where he and liis female friends join 

 com]xinv. He does not, however, play 

 indiscriminately over the forest, but he 

 has liis certain stations, which may be 

 called his playing grounds. These are 

 often of considerable extent. He does 

 not during his play confine himself to 

 any particular tree, and is seldom to be 

 met with exactly on the same spot for 

 two days in succession. On these playing 

 grounds several Capercailzie may occa- 

 sionally be heard playing at the same 

 time. Old male birds will not permit 

 the young ones or those of the preceding 

 year to play. Combats, as may be 

 supposed, not unfrequently take place on 

 these occasions." 



The Blackcock, a far more common 

 bird in these islands than the Capercailzie, 

 is ]wlygamous. and has liis pairing grounds, 

 whicli are visited somewhat early in the 

 season, and the lek, as it is called, has 

 often been described. The males assemble 

 even before the first dawn of day and 



utter a series of notes which can be heard 

 a considerable distance off. When the 

 old cocks ahght they begin to make love 

 to the hens, who keep somewhat in the 

 background amongst the bushes. They 

 strut about with outstretched neck, trail- 

 ing wings, and expanded tail, occasionally 

 vaulting high in the air, and describing 

 an irregular somersault, coming down 

 with the head turned in the opposite 

 direction. Desperate combats frequently 

 ensue, and at times even a general melee. 

 When the lek is over for the time the 

 birds separate, each husband accompanied 

 by the wives which he has secured. 



The male Great Bustard in the breeding 

 season throws himself into the most 

 extraordinary attitudes, drawing in his 

 neck, puffing out his body, expanding 

 his tail and the pouch in his throat. He, 

 moreover, throws his wings into the most 

 curious positions, making them appear as 

 if they were turned round, as it were ; and 

 upon looking at the bird when in this mood 

 I have often been really puzzled to say 

 exactly where the wings join the body, 

 and where they end. 



LADY AMHERST COCK PLAYING TO HEN. 



