68 
A conqueror's airs. 
tender shoots of other hog and moorland plants in the 
summer; on cran, whortle, and other berries, in autumn; 
and on the tops and buds of the fir and other shrubs and 
trees in winter. Where, as is sometimes the case, their 
habitat is near to cultivated lands, they manifest a decided 
liking for cereal grains of various kinds, much to the an- 
noyance of the farmer. They like best to build in or near 
swamps, or moist meadows, where they can lead their young 
to feed on the tender seeds of the grasses and rushes. The 
nest is rudely formed of twigs and grass, and placed on the 
ground sheltered by vegetation, or in a grassy tuft or low 
bush. The females are left to perform the work of incuba- 
tion alone, and to bring up the young brood, which numbers 
variously from five to ten. The bird is polygamous, and 
in the breeding season desperate struggles ensue for the 
favour of the, at other times, neglected sex. The following 
is Sir William Jardine's graphic picture of what takes 
place on such occasions : — ^ In the warmer sunny days, at 
the conclusion of winter and commencement of spring, the 
males, after feeding, may be seen arranged on some turf- 
fence, rail, or sheep-fold, pluming their wings, expanding 
their tails, and practising their love-call. If the weather 
now continues warm, the fiocks soon separate, and the males 
select some conspicuous spot, from whence they endeavour 
to drive all rivals, and commence to display their arts to 
allure the females. The places selected at such season are 
generally elevations ; the tiirf enclosure of a former sheep- 
fold, which has been disused and is now grown over ; or 
some of those beautiful spots of fresh and grassy pasture, 
which are well-known to the inhabitants of a pastoral dis- 
trict. Here, after perhaps many battles have been fought 
and rivals vanquished, the noble, full- dressed Blackcock 
takes his stand : commencing at the first dawn of day, and 
where the game is abundant, the hill on every side repeats 
the humming call. They strut around the spots selected, 
trailing their wings, inflating the throat and neck, and 
pufi^ing up the plumage of these parts, and the now bril- 
liant wattle above the eyes, raising and expanding their 
tail§j^^d displaying the beautifully contrasted white under 
tffci^overs ; he is soon heard by the females, who crowd 
