NUPTIAL HABITS OF THE ' BLACKCOCK. 27 



Norway, no hen bird was visible,* and here, during its weak 

 beginnings, the cocks were almost certainly by themselves. In 

 the "dance," although the Blackcock certainly cuts a very 

 extraordinary figure, yet there is no scientific exhibition of his 

 plumage, bringing out all the points. He merely looks a frantic 

 bird. It is also significant that, as I saw it performed in Nor- 

 way, angry sounds, more or less answering to the " tchu-whai," 

 which seems to be the note of challenge of one male to another, 

 were all the while uttered ; whereas the courting display proper, 

 as I have yet seen it, is made in silence. 



April 27th. — Almost a blank morning. Two birds only, 

 after whirbling at one another from adjoining trees, for a long 

 time, till quite late, past 7 a.m., flew down at last, not upon the 

 arena, but amidst the scrub of undergrown fir-trees, skirting it. 

 Here I could see them seeking for and advancing upon one 

 another, and once they fought very slightly — over almost 

 immediately. After this, they remained on the ground for some 

 time, and then flew into the small trees. 



April 29th. — On spot at 3.30 a.m. Rookling, &c, is all 

 about, and I hear sounds — unmistakable, I think—as of birds 

 fighting, in the darkness. With this comes the " choc-kerada," 

 " choc, choc, kerade," that plaintive invitation to battle — 

 though, as I say, of real battle I have seen nothing yet — also 

 the prolonged " chorrrrrrrr " made by the cocks when they fly 

 from place to place over the ground. Hens are also about, but 

 I can see little, there is a mist on the ground, and it soon begins 

 to rain. Not a bird to be seen, now, as it lightens. The fine 

 rain may keep them away, but otherwise it is mild— compara- 

 tively warm, indeed. 



At last a bird flies down, and then another, in different parts 

 of the "moss." For some time they rookie, "tchu-whai," and 

 fly about the ground ; this last, however, being only at intervals. 

 That they are defiant of each other is plainly evident, yet they 

 keep their places, approximately, being at least fifty yards apart. 

 A hen now flies into a small Scotch fir, somewhere between the 

 two, and, shortly afterwards, down to one of them, alighting 

 within a few yards of him. He immediately walks up to her 



- ;: None could have been near, for the "lek" was a lichen-covered 

 granite surface, without cover. 



