oe pairing-grounds there are perhaps less than half a score, en more. The hens are probably fully as numerous as fifty, or ev ‘1 the trees and amongst the bushes. As soon as — to ‘kuttra’ and ‘ blasa,’ and to make loth) or to give chase to rivals. Whilst ae cock is thus n the ground, and his expanded tail in the neighbouring country. be forty or from keeping ! cround, the old cocks begin scarcity whilst at others there may the cocks, but are less noticeable, the birds have alighted a e to the hens (to which the latt with bis neck stret t the pairing-g er are nothing - ched out, his wings trailing 0 | high in the arr, and in the while so ‘ slews lov 1 c 9 alig 1 Va 9 ] 1eal 1S l 1n an ) osit 1 e A S t 5 ¢ ‘ kuttra i c nd : blasa,’ fighting the while k e i ‘ce rom the old ones, nd u ase ata r spectful distance f a k a young cOcKS keep a ¥ es. Oo 7 Neate ss amongst themsely are frequent at the ‘ lek-stille.’ They not only savagely charge «Desperate combats between the cocks : - i. : ee f ke such effectual use of both bill and claws that the feathers fly in every direction. The Des ceeds in getting secure hold of the head of his antagonist, whom tired out, and who, when released, 1s pretty sure to take wing each other, victory usually rests with the bird that suc he then drags about the arena until fairly Battles royal between the congregated cocks ar mélée, tumbling over one another. While the cocks are are also not uncommon; and one may and fly away. sometimes see several engaged in a regul thus indulging in their combative propensities, a met ad i ir anxi for an embrace. Actual pairin ack, ack, ack, aa, expressive of their anxiety for an embrace. | g 5 ae , ad \ ' ace so much at the ‘lek-stalle’ itself as amongst the surrounding bushes. when the birds fly up into the neighbouring trees, where for a But presently they descend once more to the hens run to and fro with drooping wings, and uttering a dolorous cry, would not seem to take pl Matters thus proceed until sunrise, time the cocks are silent, as if resting from their labours. the ground, and, for a short time, the game goes on as merrily es mae The ‘lek’ over, the birds separate, each cock accompanied by the ladies of his harem. The pare ended, the hens separate and retire to their respective breeding-grounds, which may either be in the more open part of the forest, or on the distant moorlands. The nest is a very simple affair, being a mere hole scratched by the hen in the ground under a bush or tussock. The eggs are from six to twelve in number, in colour yellowish-white, thickly sprinkled with small rust-red spots and blotches, which towards the thicker end are somewhat larger; in length they are two inches and one sixteenth, and in thickness one inch and one sixteenth. The period of incubation, according to some, is three weeks ; to others, a month. It is said that if the old bird, whilst sitting, has occasion to leave the nest, she covers the eggs over with moss. ‘“ Fourteen days after the chicks are hatched, we are told by Elstrom, they leave their nest and follow their mother; but it is not until they are seven weeks old that they begin to fly up into the trees and perch on the branches. «The Blackcock is easily domesticated, and, if reared from a chick or taken young, soon becomes quite tame. In the rural districts of Sweden a caged Blackcock is often seen at the houses of the gentry, the bird being greatly admired by every one for its beauty and its song, which, though perhaps any thing but musical, is wild and pleasing, and during the pairing-season almost continual.” Speaking of this bird as seen in Scotland, Macgillivray says, ‘In autumn the Black Grouse, from its uelbts and mode of life, falls an easy prey to the sportsman; but in winter and the early part of spring it is shy and difficult to procure. As the males weigh from three to four pounds, and the females about two, it ranks among the most important of our native birds as an article of food. Its flesh is whiter than that of the Red Grouse, especially the smaller coloured as those of the Pheasant. few of the | pectoral muscles, which are nearly as light- The natural enemies of the Black Grouse are foxes, polecats, and a arger rapacious birds, in particular the Golden Eagle and the P Pee ae districts, and especially in the south-western parts of Scotland, great injury is inflicted on a : a and vipers, which abound on the heaths and in the plantations.” Triting in » Mr. Selby says that ac | g hat the k we rer i a Y say Blackcock was then very abundant in Northumberland, and had apidly increasing for some years previously, and that it was b I ith i 5 vas but sparingly met with in Staffordshire ; it would appear, howey ; : Nes By ae that m the latter county, as in the former, it has greatly increased, since ‘ eus me that it is very abundant j ecu ; ’ in Cannock Chase, wl y : ase, where he has s . five hundred on the oaks Ande Cones Reece oR he has seen a flock of at least Helene at it is equally numerous in Chartley Park, the seat of Tr D>]. . The Plate represents a male and a fe eregrine Falcon. It is alleged male, about four-fifths the natural size.