TETRAOXID.E. Z i O 



brood at Hartnoll. A few years since there were a brace or two on 

 Corldou Hill, close to Barnstaple. 



"We have occasionally Hushed and shot Blackcocks in turnip-fields on 

 liigh ground in the centre of the county, as at Burrington, near Ashreigny. 

 On Dartmoor we saw some every season, meeting oceasioualiy with small 

 packs late in the autumn, and frequently with single old cocks, but they 

 were always wild. One summer we kuew of a brood close to Craumcre 

 Pool. 



A stray bird, usually a Greyhen, is now and then shot in the Kings- 

 bridge district (R. P. jS",). A pack of eleven was seen by the late Mr. 

 Bower 8cott on Haldon in February 1882. In East Devon there are 

 Blackgame near Hemyock, on the Blackdown Hills, between Honiton and 

 Taunton, and also between Honiton and Uffculme. There used, to be 

 packs of Blackgame on Trinity Hill, near Asminster, in the first quarter 

 of the present century (G. P. P. P., ' Book of the Axe '). A few breed 

 on the liigh ground between Axmiuster and Lyme R.egis (Beverly P. 

 Morris, Zool. 1848, p. 2352). 



In Cornwall there are a few on the Bodmin Moors around the Jamaica 

 Inn, whence Mr. Podd received hybrids between the Blackcock and the 

 Pheasant. Blackgame are found throughout Somerset. On the estates 

 of Sir Thomas Acland at Winsford, &c., they are numerous, and also on 

 Mr. Snow's property at Oare, where we have heard of very good bags 

 having been made. When fishing the beautiful Barle through the woods 

 above Dulvertoi], we have once or twice seen Greyhens sitting on their 

 nests within a few yards of the stream. These fine covers abound with tlic 

 whortleberry, whose berries are eagerly sought after and devoured by 

 Blackgame. 



On the Quantocks there are a few Blaclcgame, and although they are 

 strictly preserved and sparinglj- shot, they do not increase. There are 

 some on the Blagdon Hills, and to the east of the county there are a few 

 on the northern skirts of the Mendip country. In Dorsetshire Blackgame 

 are extremely local, and do not multi])ly, and Mr. Maiisel-Pleydell states 

 there are only a few districts which suit their habits. 



We have several times had the good fortune to witness the curious 

 dancing parties or Ids in which the lilackcocks indulge in the spring for 

 the purpose of showing themselves ott' to the (ircyhens. Late one evening 

 in May we were driving over Winsford Hill on our return from a day's 

 fishing at Withypool, when on a small square patch of turf by the side of 

 the road, some way in front of us, we became aware of some black objects 

 hymmetrically arranged in rows, and looking to us like large ninepins set 

 up for a game. As we a])proachcd wo discovered them to be lilackcocks 

 engaged in dancing. Two were so busily performing as wo jjasscd that 

 they took no notice of us, although we could have well-nigh reached them 

 with our whip. The birds, closely crjufronting each other, rescml)led two 

 young cockerels about to commence a fight, but they did not strike any 

 blows, merely bowing and scra])ing and jumping about, with trailing 

 wings and outspread tails, while other Blackcocks looked on, and the 

 ladies of the harem we considered to be watching from their " boxes " in 



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