96 NovreESs ON THE BiRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
1860, in one day.161 The year 1910 proved an exceptionally 
good one: ninety-five Blackgame were killed near Langholm 
on 11th October; and one hundred and fourteen at Auchen- 
brac (Tynron) on 25th October in that year. 
On 12th November, 1919, while driving Blackgame at 
Ford and Aird (Tynron), a Blackcock, with a harem of Grey- 
hens, lit just out of shot of the guns and gave us a pretty 
exhibition of his spring ‘‘ display ’’; these out of season pet- 
formances have been termed displays of pseudo-erotism. 
In the autumn of 1908 Mr Bell-Irving came across soine 
Blackgame near Winterhopehead (Middlehie), which were 
described as sitting about ‘on the grass looking queer 
stupidly drunk ’’; it was suggested from the effects 
of eating Rowan berries. 1® 
A Greyhen, which was picked up as a * piner ”’ at Lann 
(Tynron) on 2tst July, 1921, was forwarded to the Field 
Office for report as to cause of death. Examination there 
showed that it was suffering from gapes, an extremely rare 
disease in the Grouse family, and also from tuberculosis of 
the liver and spleen.!® It is curious that on 23rd July, 1905, 
I should have found a Lapwing, near Capenoch, which proved 
to be ‘‘ the subject of advanced tuberculosis,’’!® and that in 
December, 1912, I should have been sent the feet of a Wood- 
cock, from Thornhill (Morton), which were reported on as 
follows :—‘‘ Had the subject been human and not avian, I 
should not have hesitated to have described the conditions 
as due to tuberculosis.’*16 
A Blackcock, a bird of the year, was picked up at Dal- 
gonar (Penpont) on 11th October, 1921. A post-mortem 
examination showed that the proximate cause of death was 
pneumonia of both lungs, but the coeca contained numerous 
nematode worms (Trichostrongylus pergracilis) similar to 
those found in Red Grouse, and it may be noted that these 
161 Captain Aymer Maxwell in The Gun at Home and Abroad, 
Wool I, CIGI2), > 443. 
162 Avicultural Magazine, N.S., Vol. VII. (1908-9), p. 144. 
163 The Field, 20th August, 1921. 
164 Birds of Dumfriesshire (1910), p. 374. 
165 British Birds Magazine, Vol. IIL., pp. 349, 376. 
