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A PUGNACIOUS GROUSE. 



R. FORTUNE, F.Z.S. 



I WAS photographing the deer in Studley Park on Sej)!. 24th, 

 when I was surprised to hear a somewhat faniihar note, and one 

 which seemed quite out of place there. A hearty ' (io back, go 

 back ! ' from the top of the pahngs surrounding the ornamental 

 gardens convinced me that I had made no mistake in diagnosing 

 the note as that of a grouse. The bird soon spied me, and, flying 

 down into the grass, came running across towards me, showing 

 himself to be a tine cock grouse in magnificent plumage. I 

 thought he probably wanted to be fed, but soon found out that 

 he looked upon me as an 

 intruder, for he attacked 

 me right manfully, flying 

 at me, giving my hand 

 severe blows with his wings, 

 and pecking so lustily at 

 it that he brought blood, 

 and so violent were the 

 blows given by his wings, 

 that he caused one of them 

 to bleed at the shoulder. 

 I crouched down, and he 

 partly ran, partly flew up 

 my arm to buffet and peck 

 at my face, and when I flicked my cap at him he seized and tugged 

 at it in an endeavour to get it away from me. I then threw 

 my cap on the ground near him. He stamped and tore at it 

 with his beak in a very vindictive way. All the time when 

 not attacking he spread himself out and strutted about, uttering 

 guttural notes, and the well-known ' Go back, go back ! ' I 

 was able to get a few photographs of him, though even with a 

 lens of six inches focus this was not an easy matter, as I could 

 hardh' keep him far enough away from the camera. I was 

 lucky in having a short focus lens with me. When I had 

 exposed all my plates I stayed admiring him for some time, 

 and then turned to go. He followed me up for quite hve 

 hundred yards, and every time I stopped, which I did frequently, 

 he renewed his attack with vigour. I have had experience 

 with falcons ' stooping ' at me when photographing at their 

 eyries ; gulls ha\-e buffeted me ; terns ha\'e pecked at the 



igio Dec. i. 



R. Fortune, F.Z.S. 



[Photo. 



