THE BLACK COCK. 151 



flies far before alighting again. In rainy weather it 

 seldom mounts on the wing. These birds are rarely to 

 be found exactly at the same spot, but they are never 

 very far from a haunt once chosen. In winter they seek 

 shelter in the dense woods, but their favourite resort is 

 coppices, in order to be near the seed-fields. In winter 

 they feed on the buds of numberless trees and bushes, 

 and with admirable dexterity peel off the rind from the 

 tops of the birch boughs. 



Ant's eggs, beetles, insects, are a favourite food, and 

 these the hen teaches her young brood to look for and 

 to find. In the pairing season the hens leave in succes- 

 sion the company of the rest, to lay eight, twelve, sixteen 

 eggs in the thick underwood or fern, ^^^lenever they 

 quit the nest, the eggs are carefully covered over with 

 dry leaves, twigs, or moss, so as to hide them entirely 

 from view. 



Early in spring, before the birch trees have begun to 

 bud, and while yet at early morning there is a haze 

 over the landscape, and the dawn is penetratingly cold, 

 the black cock seeks a mate. The sky has not yet begun 

 to grow grey, nor has that wonderful breath which 

 passes through the air shortly before day break been felt, 

 w^hen already a chuckle is heard from the neighbouring 

 wood, and soon after the fluttering of wings. And if 

 you listen, — for as yet 3^ou can see nothing through the 

 gloom, — you will hear the sound of the bird cleaving 



I. 4 



