32 The Natural History of British Game Birds 
tenant is observant and interested in the preservation of this noble species. Blackgame, 
like the roe, for some reason are not popular in the sense that grouse are, because 
they do not afford the easy and frequent sport offered to a number of guns that the 
smaller species do. They occupy a subsidiary position, and are not — to use a hateful 
word as applied to Nature — fashionable. The laird does not love them because of his 
young trees, and the lazy gunner does not care for them except as a handsome variety 
to the day's shooting, because their pursuit often means a failure to produce a bag. 
Another very regrettable circumstance prejudicial in every way both to sport and 
an increase of the species, is that Blackgame may be shot on August 20th. No true 
sportsman cares to shoot his birds — nearly all young stock that ought to be spared — at 
this season, and yet the majority do so. They kill the breeding hens and all the poults 
that ought to be left, and whilst giving no satisfaction to themselves as shots, they do 
irretrievable damage. In August food is most abundant out on the moors, and the 
grouse shooters coming on broods at this season seldom spares them — sometimes from 
ignorance, but generally because it is a " fine day and a fellow must kill something," 
as I heard a youth once remark. Both this species and the capercaillie ought to be 
protected until September 25th. 1 Still another point which must not be overlooked is 
the fact that Blackgame even in the vicinity of their home grounds take long flights. 
For months they may resort to certain feeding grounds, and there comes a day when 
a change of diet is necessary, and they fly to the little moor edges and fields, where their 
appearance is the signal for slaughter on the part of the small shooting tenants and 
farmers who have no interest in preserving them. Like the woodcock or duck they 
are to him occasional visitors, and are killed by any manner of legitimate and poaching 
device. I have known excellent Blackgame grounds ruined by little outside tenants. 
Finally, unreasonable moor-burning, as practised on Dartmoor and Exmoor right into 
the nesting season, is very prejudicial to the interests of the species. 
In their early stages young Black Grouse are very fond of insects, especially ants' 
eggs, and I have seen large ant-hills torn to pieces by the Greyhens, which have been in 
the habit of visiting them until not an egg was left. This, with rush and grass seeds, 
is a favourite food. In August the adult plumage comes in, and the young Blackcocks 
are the first to leave the mother. For a short time they lead a solitary life, and by the 
end of September assemble in what may be termed mixed " immature " packs, in which 
a stray old Blackcock may sometimes be found. Young Greyhens breed the following 
spring, but it is three years before the Blackcock is allowed to fulfil parental duties. 
Young Blackgame are very slow in reaching maturity. Although hatched early in 
June, they are not full grown until the end of September. During this period they are 
the most delicate and easiest to kill of all our game birds. Even when nearly mature 
they seem to be extremely tame, and are almost incapable of flight if flushed twice on a 
wet day. But with the accession of bodily strength and full plumage they soon become 
the wildest of our game birds, with the exception of the cock capercaillie. 
1 As this work goes to press many sportsmen and naturalists will be rejoiced to see that Viscount Dalrymple has introduced a 
Bill to extend the close time for Blackgame to prevent their being shot before October rst. This will doubtless become law, and in 
the main it is just, but it will most certainly meet with the disapproval of many Highland shooting tenants, as it will entail but little 
sport with the birds. The average tenant leaves Scotland by October 5th, so it is hard upon him and his friends. September 25th 
would have been a much better date. 
