98 Selous: The Nuptial Habits of the Blackcock. 
before the hen; and other misconceptions have followed this 
fundamental one. 
With regard to the accuracy of my previous notes: “‘ An 
Observational Diary on the Nuptial Habits of the Blackcock 
in Scandinavia and England,” which was published in The 
Zoologist for 1909, I have never had better opportunities for 
observation, especially in England, which yielded the best 
results. Everything I saw I noted, and also everything I did 
not see which has been stated or implied for a good many years. 
In England, at any rate (and my observations here corroborate 
those made in Sweden) I saw everything in full swing, and from 
the earliest moment,* always being on the spot before dawn, 
which sometimes necessitated starting at midnight. I did 
everything, within my power, to further- scientific truth, and 
have indeed produced immensely strong evidence in favour of 
the Darwinian theory of sexual selection. It would seem, how- 
ever, that, since the theory itself is (officially) out of favour, 
such evidence is not wanted. ‘Burial it brings; here’s a state 
of things!’ 
My enquiries also indirectly give support to a statement 
made by Mr. Abel Chapman in regard to the snow-burrowing 
habits of the Red Grouse. This, apparently in the opinion 
of the writer of the article in question, stands in much need of 
it, in which ‘ parlous state’ it is left by him. The Swedish 
forester, however, who sometimes acted as my guide, told 
me that, in winter, the Blackcock habitually burrowed in the 
snow, and he further averred, speaking as assuredly of the one 
as of the other, that they often had to support themselves 
by eating their own excrements—that this was, in fact, their 
habitual practice. In regard to the first point the statement 
of such a man must surely carry conviction, nor should it, 
in my opinion, be lightly dismissed in regard to the other 
either. f 
(OS 
The Nineteenth Report of the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, 
refers to the period from April Ist, 1910, to March 31st, 1912. Much 
progress seems to have been made in the geological and botanical 
departments. At present the archzxological collections are stored. ‘A 
commencement has been made also in the matter of lectures to school 
teachers.’ 
* This applies, for the most part, to Sweden also. What I mean by 
the qualification here is that, as I left on May 6th, things may have 
“come on’ more afterwards. It seemed, however, to be going the other 
way. This, I believe, was owing to the birds being disturbed, and be- 
coming unsettled, through shooting—here, as ever, the gun.and observa- 
tion are antagonistic. In England I saw, as I believe, both the rise and 
the zenith, as well as the decline, but there was no discrepancy as between 
the two countries. 
+ The habits of the Termites, or White Ants, should be remembered in 
this connection. 
Naturalist, 
