158 A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



himself composedly on his little hillock and again commences 

 his song of war, at which some wandering knight, who has yet 

 his laurels to win, soon takes offence, and at once challenges 

 him. Now in preparation for this coming battle the victor of 

 the former strife entirely alters his tactics, and his attitude is 

 one purely of a defensive nature ; for after rising to his feet, 

 he simply watches the advance of his adversary with lowered 

 head, allowing the latter to waste his energies in futile attempts 

 at getting above or behind his guard, till the process of fencing 

 wearies him, when, with one quick movement, he repeats the 

 lesson he gave his former antagonist. 



" At intervals during each separate fight. Black cocks emit 

 a curious call ; it is a hoarse screech, resembling the noise too 

 painfully familiar to us, namely, that of cats on house-tops, 

 supplemented by the said animals being afflicted with sore 

 throats. The sound is both wild and un-musical in the 

 extreme. 



" We will suppose that the observer has come early on the 

 scene, before the Grey hens have made their appearance. The 

 approach of one of the latter is the signal for an immedi- 

 ate cessation of hostilities on all sides, and intense excitement 

 prevails amongst the assembled Black cocks. Her approach 

 has been observed by a single bird, who has been sharper than 

 the rest in detecting the lady afar off . . . [he will] suddenly 

 draw himself up to a rigid position of attention, till he is sure 

 she is really coming. Having settled this in his mind to his 

 own satisfaction, he throws himself into the air and flutters up 

 a few feet, uttering the while hoarse notes with all the power 

 and effect he can muster. This is, of course, done to impress 

 the lady in his favour, and arouse in her breast a proper sense 

 of admiration which he considers his due. His example is 

 immediately followed by all the others, who on alighting dance 

 about in the most absurd manner, each one trying to see who 

 can screech the loudest and be the most ridiculous in his 

 antics. 



" When a hen has alighted on the playing-ground, the male 

 that is nearest to her pairs with her and fights off any other 

 that disputes his possession. She then meanwhile walks 

 sedately round her lord and master, picking about the grass 

 coquettishly and pretending to be feeding. Each hen on 



