SPORTSMEN AND BIRDS. 
473 
it perches, towards sun-down, on the top of a very high 
tree. Just let a second Blackcock present itself below the 
next morning, with any idea of dancing in its company! 
In a second matters take an offensive form, and an 
engagement takes place, which often lasts for several 
days, when the weakest finds itself obliged to decamp and 
seek another playing-ground. It is true these encounters 
do not terminate fatally, the general damage being limited 
to the loss of a few feathers, both retiring without appa¬ 
rently any further inconvenience : it is not, however, 
the will that is wanting on the part of the combatants to 
make the meeting assume a deadlier form, but the want 
of sharp, offensive weapons. It is no question of defensive 
tactics, for both birds simply seize hold of one another. 
Springing at one another, they scratch with all their 
might, and, pecking at each other's heads, gobble as if 
for a wager; besides which, they dance, jump and scream 
like lunatics: it would seem as though the very hell of 
jealousy was gifted with a thousand tongues ! If one has 
the luck to seize the other by the neck, the other returns 
the compliment, and sticking to one another like bull¬ 
dogs, they spring in the air, and shove and pull one 
another about to their heart’s content. As soon as they 
loose their hold they both retreat backwards, so as to 
prepare for a fresh rush, remain for an instant with 
pendant wings, and tail erect; bent low to the ground, 
they bow a mutual challenge, and then fly at one another 
as before. The battle lasts until one is fairly seized by 
the head, and ‘ shown off the place,’ in the true sense of 
the word, for the vanquished bird is driven over the 
boundary of its adversaries’ beat, and retires in confusion 
for the time at least.” 
It is true I heard scarcely the half of this description, 
