Rurr. GRALLATORES. MACHETES. 131 
orders. An analogy is thus maintained between individuals 
otherwise far removed from each other. Shortly after the 
arrival of the males in this country, and as soon as the fea- 
thers of the throat, which form the ruff, and the auricular 
tufts (also appendages peculiar to the season) become almost 
fully developed), they begin to Aili, as it is termed ; that is, 
to assemble in companies upon some dry hillock, or rising 
spot of ground amidst the marshes; each individual select- 
ing there a particular stand or walk at a small distance from 
his neighbour; any attempt to encroach upon which is in- 
stantly resented, and the possession of it most obstinately 
defended. Here each bird keeps moving in his respective 
circle,; awaiting the approach of any one of the other sex; 
whose appearance immediately throws the whole assemblage 
into excitement, and acts as the signal for a general fight, 
her favours being the prize of victory. Each morning, soon 
after daybreak, when the males return to their ill from the 
surrounding marshes, where they disperse and feed during 
the night, the same species of warfare takes place, and the 
theatre of these) battles and amours soon becomes bare of 
grass from the constant traversing of the combatants. This 
scene continues during the month of May and great part of 
June, until their mutual fervour begins to abate ; indicated 
in the male birds by the shedding of the ruff and auricular 
plumes, and the commencement of a general moult. The 
papilla, or small fleshy tubercles, that cover the face and 
the region of the eyes during the height of the season (and 
which are ascertained, by experiments on birds kept in con- 
finement, to be only consequent on sexual connexion) also 
disappear; and in a short time they become clothed in a 
plumage so unlike that of the early summer, as to be with 
difficulty recognised. With this difference of plumage, a 
change is also wrought in their disposition, as they no longer 
exhibit the extreme pugnacity that distinguished them during 
the time of hilling ; and this fact is in accordance with the 
manners of the Pheasant, Black Grouse, and other polyga- 
) 
La 
