OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 39 



allow a much nearer approach as they sit on the half-leafless trees. 

 I might also remark for the benefit of any sportsman unaware of 

 the circumstance, that while Red Grouse always endeavour to fly 

 down wind, Black Game seek to fly up wind. The formation 

 of the tail may have some influence on this. When much shot 

 at Black Game generally mount up high into the air, and fly 

 right away to some distant cover. This species also appears to 

 have an antipathy against flying uphill, and when flushed on a 

 slope usually passes to a lower level. 



Nidification. — In the matter of its reproduction the Black 

 Grouse very closely resembles the Capercaillie. It is poly- 

 gamous, and the Black Cocks perform much the same peculiar 

 antics during the pairing season to charm the Gray Hens, as we 

 have already described in the preceding chapter. Certain 

 meeting or " laking " places are chosen in its haunts to which 

 numbers of males resort early in April, and here battles are of 

 frequent occurrence for the females which are attracted by the 

 love notes, or "spel,'' and charmed by the grotesque attitudes 

 assumed by the Cocks. The "spel" or song consists of two 

 very distinct notes, one a kind of coo, the other a kiss, both so 

 loudly uttered that they may be heard for a mile or more across 

 the silent wilderness. During the progress of the " lek '' the 

 females creep up to the place with drooping wings, uttering a low 

 note and apparently watching the proceedings with great interest, 

 waiting to pair with the most successful males. A second " spel " 

 is said to take place in autumn, and during this period the cocks 

 keep in companies by themselves. The female takes all charge 

 of the domestic arrangements. About the first week in May the 

 Gray Hen goes to nest. This is always placed on the ground, 

 under a clump of dead bracken or matted bramble and fern, or 

 amongst heather or ling, rushes or bilberry wires. It is merely a 

 hollow into which is scraped a few bits of dry grass, broken fern- 

 fronds or dead leaves of the bilberry, and fallen pine-needles. 

 The eggs, from six to ten in number, are brownish buff, spotted 

 and blotched with reddish brown of various shades of intensity. 

 They measure on an average 2'o inches in length by i'4 inch in 

 breadth. Occasionally a single nest will contain as many as 

 sixteen eggs — the produce of two hens who sit together amicably 



