28 The Natural History of British Game Birds 
combatants, and though desirous of engaging the bird on the defensive, was too much 
of a gentleman to attack him whilst occupied with another. At intervals during each 
separate fight Blackcocks emit a most curious call. It is a hoarse screech, resembling 
that noise which is painfully familiar to us, namely, that of cats on the housetops, 
supplemented by the said animals being afflicted with sore throats. The sound is wild 
and unmusical in the extreme. 
We will suppose that the observer has come early on the scene, before the Greyhens 
have made their appearance. The approach of one of the latter is the signal for the 
immediate cessation of hostilities on all sides, and intense excitement prevails amongst 
the assembled Blackcocks. Her approach has been observed by a single bird, who has 
been sharper than the rest in detecting the lady afar off. If you are at the moment 
watching him, you will see him 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 satis- 
faction, he throws himself into the air, and flutters up a few feet, uttering the while 
his hoarse note 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. 
The sight of the Blackcock is supposed to be very keen, and is undoubtedly so at all 
other times. But at the period of love and war we speak of, his senses are often so dulled 
or excited by one or the other, that he does not seem able to distinguish a grouse 
passing by at a distance, from a Greyhen, when the identity of the species can be noticed at 
a glance by a human being who is much farther away from the object. Curiously enough, 
I never saw them cease their hostilities when a pair of grouse flew by, chasing each other, 
a single bird flying straight in their direction being always the chief cause of their 
excitement. On one occasion I saw them mistake a partridge, that came flying out from 
a wood close by, for one of their own species. 
When a hen has alighted on the playing-ground, the male that is nearest to her 
pairs off with her and fights off any other that disputes his possession. The hen mean- 
while walks sedately round her lord and master, picking about at the grass coquettishly 
and pretending to be feeding. Each hen on arriving causes the same general excitement, 
and is appropriated by one or other of the successful cocks, till the harems are filled up, 
one cock having at times as many as six or seven hens. As the season advances, after 
the first few mornings of the hens coming to the ground, they resort to the same spot each 
day, and stay with the same cock who has previously paired with them, and they are not 
interfered with afterwards by other cocks, who acknowledge the superior claims of the 
male to whom they rightfully belong. 
Blackcocks resort to their playing-ground till the summer is well advanced ; and 
one morning (June 4, 1890), when I got up at daybreak to stalk roe at Eskadale, 
on opening my window to let in the fresh morning air, much to my delight there were 
my old friends the Blackcocks again, whirring and strutting about as usual in the grass 
field. There were about ten brace of cocks and a solitary hen, and I watched an old 
cock showing himself off to the latter by running round and round her for fully half- 
