56 The Natural History of British Game Birds 
yet if we watch them very closely in the initial stages of their courtship, something very 
like an assemblage for general fighting and mating takes place. As fine weather occurs, 
even in early January, Grouse break away from the big packs and resort to coveys 
again. It requires but one week of really fine and mild weather at this season for these 
coveys to commence the business of fighting and pairing. The males fight much after 
the manner of the blackcocks, but do not lift the tail so high. They endeavour to strike 
each other with the bill, especially on the top of the head, springing up into the air and 
hitting downwards. On the ground they will seize each other anywhere about the neck 
or head, and if one gets a hold it scratches, worries, and beats the other with the wings, 
making a loud noise in so doing. When one is victorious it flies up into the air, 
uttering its loud " Kok-er-a-kok-kok-kok-go-bak-gobak-gobak," as a pasan of victory and 
challenge. Each male that has succeeded in appropriating a female separates her to a 
distance of forty to a hundred yards from what we may call a central point of the open 
ground which they have chosen as a mating place. Here he stands upright, frequently 
calling 1 "uk-uk-uk," or " bec-bec-bec," lowering his wings, erecting his comb, and 
quivering the tail. At such times his beautiful plumage shines, and he looks a very 
handsome bird. The female meanwhile crouches down beside him, and remains im- 
movable until another cock Grouse accepts the challenge of the male and comes to do 
battle. Whilst the males are fighting, she runs round and round the pair with great 
swiftness, sometimes uttering a low clucking note, and at once settles herself at the side 
of the victor. Her affections seem to go solely to the strongest male. 
During the mating season the female Grouse has a distinct call of her own, of 
which I do not see reference made in any book on Natural History. It is fairly loud, 
like the words " ee-ack-ee-ack." She repeats it from the ground when she desires to 
call the male, or is suddenly frightened. I have known poachers to sit in a bush 
and imitate the call, when the cocks will come round and become much excited. They 
are then easily killed with the .22 rifle. 
When cock Grouse are fighting the contest is fairly vicious as long as it lasts ; 
but it is usually not protracted, one or other soon giving way. The vanquished male 
flies off, pursued by the victor, and so the fight is unlike that of capercaillie and black- 
cocks, extended over a considerable area. Often the victor is attacked again, and routed 
by some male that he has chased away. Contests in which more than two males take 
part are unusual, but I have seen four cocks all in a melee together, fighting des- 
perately, and so closely engaged that I could nearly touch them. Not being so well 
armed as the larger game birds, Grouse seldom inflict serious injury to one another, 
but they often become blinded temporarily from wounds about the eyes. 
In the covey there are always a few old cocks, as well as passing troubadours 
which come and settle amongst the pairing and fighting birds, that are elements of 
chronic disturbance and mischief. They will not dwell in peace with their neighbours, 
even when they have got a good wife, their one object being to make fresh conquests 
and to unsettle or drive off the young males that are already paired. March may be 
said to be the general month of mating, but all through this month, as well as in April 
1 In spring the call note is more loud and defiant than at other seasons. Many males cry in different keys, some as though 
tenor, baritone, and bass. 
