BLACK GROUS. 



283 



when the males separate, and assume their pugna- 

 cious dispositions. 



They will not bear confinement, many attempts 

 to rear them having failed. During the winter the 

 inhabitants of Siberia catch them in the following 

 singular manner. A number of poles are placed 

 horizontally on forked sticks, in the places the birds 

 frequent ; small bundles of corn are tied on these 

 by way of allurement, and at a little distance some 

 tall conical shaped baskets are placed, having their 

 broad end uppermost ; just within the mouth of 

 each basket a small wheel is balanced in such a 

 manner that the least touch, on either side, causes 

 it to fall down and recover its situation. The 

 birds are soon attracted by the corn on the hori- 

 zontal poles ; the first comers alight upon them, 

 and after a short repast fly to the baskets, and 

 attempt to settle on their tops, when' the wheel 

 drops sideways, and they fall headlong into the 

 trap. These baskets are sometimes found half 

 full of the birds thus caught. 



In Russia, Norway, and other extreme northern 

 countries, the Black Grous are said to retire under 

 the snow during the winter, but probably without 

 foundation. 



