BLACK GAME 35 



they catch great numbers in this manner ; and as in nine 

 cases out of ten the shepherds are in the habit of assisting 

 and harbouring the poachers, as well as allowing their dogs 

 to destroy as many eggs and young birds as they like, 

 these men require as much watching as possible. I have 

 generally found it entirely useless to believe a word that 

 they tell me respecting the encroachments of poachers, even 

 if they do not poach themselves. With a clever sheep-dog 

 and a stick I would engage to kill three parts of every 

 covey of young grouse which I found in July and the first 

 part of August ; and, in fact, the shepherds generally do kill 

 great numbers in this noiseless and destructive manner. As 

 the black game for the most part breed in plantations, where 

 sheep and shepherds have no business to be found, they are 

 less likely to be killed in this way. But the young ones, till 

 nearly full grown, lie so close, that it is quite easy to catch 

 half the brood. 



When able to run, the old hen leads them to the vicinity of 

 some wet and mossy place in or near the woodlands, where the 

 seeds of the coarse grass and of other plants, and the insects 

 that abound near the water, afford the young birds plenty of 

 food. The hen takes great care of her young, fluttering near 

 any intruder as if lame, and having led him to some distance 

 from the brood takes flight, and making a circuit returns to 

 them. The cock bird sometimes keeps with the brood, but 

 takes good care of himself, and running off leaves them to their 

 fate. Wild and wary as the blackcock usually is, he sometimes 

 waits till you almost tread on him, and then flutters away, 

 giving as easy a shot to the sportsman as a turkey would do. 

 At other times, being fond of basking in the sun, he lies all 

 day enjoying its rays in some open place where it is difficult to 

 approach him without being seen. 



In snowy weather the black game perch very much on the 

 fir-trees, as if to avoid chilling their feet on the colder ground : 

 in wet weather they do the same. 



During the spring, and also in the autumn, about the time 

 the first hoar-frosts are felt, I have often watched the black- 

 cocks in the early morning, when they collect on some rock or 

 height, and strut and crow with their curious note not unlike 

 that of a wood-pigeon. On these occasions they often have. 



