THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
This may be seen when both species are being driven together towards 
the “ butts.” 
When once a line of flight has been determined on by the black grouse 
it is not easily turned from its course, and, in this respect, resembles the 
red-legged partridge. 
Breeding habits. — Black -game are polygamous, that is to say, one male 
pairs with many females. The pairing -season commences towards the 
end of March or beginning of April, when the cocks are in the habit of 
resorting at dawn and sunset to some particular spot to display their 
charms to the females and give battle to their rivals. The extraordinary 
pantomime gone through by each male as he struts round the arena, 
generally an open patch of ground, worn nearly bare by constant traffic, 
is a most entertaining sight, and will amply repay anyone who does not 
mind rising early. 
In Perthshire, the writer has had many opportunities of observing 
these courting -grounds. One very favourite “lek” was situated on the 
grassy edge of a moor, just outside a fir-wood, enclosed by a stone dyke. 
It was thus easily approached, and offered an exceptional chance of 
seeing without being seen. With drooping wings, outspread tail, and 
many other curious antics, accompanied by an occasional spring into 
the air, the blackcocks endeavour to secure the goodwill of the greyhens 
and when two birds meet, a slight skirmish takes place, in which a few 
feathers are lost. As a rule no serious fights, such as one sees between 
capercaillie or red grouse, occur, merely a “ round with the gloves ” 
to entertain the admiring but somewhat apathetic greyhens; but occa- 
sionally, when two old rivals who have already established their claims 
chance to meet, a furious “set-to” may be witnessed, the fight lasting till 
one of the birds is ignominiously chased off the courting -ground, or, more 
often, till both birds are thoroughly exhausted, bleeding and torn. These 
strange entertainments last till the hen birds have laid all their eggs and 
commenced to sit, when the cocks are seen no more, the hatching of the 
eggs and rearing of the young being exclusively the task of the other sex. 
In autumn there is a revival of these scenes at the courting -grounds, 
and on fine October mornings I have several times witnessed a number 
of blackcocks rehearsing for the coming spring entertainment, and heard 
them uttering the same crooning love-notes, but the whole performance 
was tame compared with that seen in April. 
On arriving at the “lek” the blackcocks utter a peculiar prolonged 
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