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" They run with great swiftness; and every sportsman will have experienced the difficulty of 

 catching a winged Black Grouse. 



"In winter they feed almost exclusively upon soft willow twigs and birch catkins (here 

 called Haurakler). At this season of the year they collect in flocks, and make excursions to the 

 neighbouring birch-woods. The whole flock often settle down upon a single tree, and are so 

 occupied with picking catkins, that with ordinary precaution one can easily approach them. 

 And there can be no prettier sight than a flock of black game sitting on one of the richest catkin- 

 bearing trees on a clear frosty day. With easy and graceful motions they pick off the catkins, 

 while the tender boughs bend under the weight of their heavy bodies, and all over the tree the 

 glistening icicles hang down reflecting the sunshine like a thousand diamonds. 



"It is characteristic of the black game that, during the heavy snow-storms in winter or 

 severe cold, they seek shelter from the weather by suffering themselves to be snowed up, or by 

 burying themselves in the snow drifts. In this manner they often penetrate several yards down 

 in the snow, or make long galleries under it ; and they only leave their place of refuge when 

 compelled by hunger to do so, or when the storm is over." I may add that I confirm from 

 personal observation what Mr. Collett writes respecting this bird suffering itself to be snowed up, 

 and have seen the Ruffed Grouse of North America (Bonasia umbellus) do the same. 



The Black Grouse is polygamous, — the males meeting at a regular place of assembly during 

 the pairing-season, where they are joined by the females, who, it appears, seek the males at that 

 season of the year — the pairing-time being usually in the month of April, but varying somewhat 

 according to the season. One of the most peculiar scenes I have ever witnessed was what the 

 Swedes call an " orrlek," an assemblage of black game during the pairing-season, when the males 

 fight for the possession of the females. I have, when in Finland and Sweden, been on several 

 occasions a witness of these scenes. The locality selected for the " lek " is usually some partially 

 cleared spot in the forest, or a morass surrounded by forest trees ; and the performance commences 

 before day-break. One of the best " leks " I ever saw was one I visited not far from the town of 

 Wyburg. A young Russian, a clerk to my host, told me he knew where this " lek "-place was, 

 and proposed that we should visit it. A full hour before dawn we were up and en route ; and 

 before the first signs of dawn showed themselves I was ensconced in a small hut of boughs in the 

 middle of a forest-clearing, and my companion in another at some distance. Before long a few 

 black game appeared in the high trees skirting the clearing ; and after a short interval a fine old 

 cock alighted close to my hut, and immediately began to " spela " or drum. Strutting proudly 

 about, dragging his wings, spreading his tail like a fan, and with outstretched neck uttering most 

 peculiar and extraordinary sounds, he somewhat resembled an immature Turkey-cock. The 

 notes uttered by the drumming cock are by the Swedes called " kuttrande " or cooing, and 

 " blasande " or blowing — the one being a peculiar sort of cooing or gobbling, and the other a 

 sort of sharp blowing sound, which Mr. Collett, in a letter to me describing the notes of this 

 bird, very aptly describes as a long-drawn houijsch. Every now and then the bird jumped up in the 

 air ; and during the " lek " I saw several times one of the birds turn an irregular sommersault. 

 The male above referred to had not been long on the ground before another and another Black- 

 cock came down from the neighbouring trees, until about a dozen were assembled, all strutting, 

 drumming, and cutting the same peculiar capers. The first two which met, immediately 



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