lu.Ai'K ciiursi:.
ofl'cring the easiest chances inn finable. While picking our way in haste from tin- gully tfl Uta next hollow,
the sound of wings was ngaiu heard, anil turning rapidly 1 was just in time to drop the last of the
brood, disturbed by one of the pony-men coming to gather up the slain. On reaching the spot where
the keeper had last been seen 1 found him standing over and doing bis best to cheer up poor Minnie,
who having bean held buck so long was anxious to lie drawing on; afier moving forward, the liltlo
bitch speedily came upon the birds, which ngain proved to be Black Game. Springing from among
the cover in much the same manner as the tirst bruud, eight were stopped ; the ninth, however, twisted
so sharply to the right that, owing to the steepness of the ground, I was unable to swing round
sufficiently to obtain a shot. After leaving the sloping hill-side up which no had ju-t made our way,
another pack of Black Game, evidently consisting of two broods intermixed, was found in the tirst patch
of heather on the open moor; the cover, however, being scanty, and affording little shelter, the bints,
with the exception of n few Hint had strayed from the main body, rose all together and three brace
only were obtained. In order to make up the number required, I now turned further out on the open
moors for Grouse, being of opiné in that Black Game had suffered sufficiently. It was soon ascertained that
there was no necessity to proceed beyond the lower Hats, as several packs were met with in rapid succession,
the birds in almost every instance being extremely loath to rise. Twenty brace (the number required) having
been obtained, we turned homewards, and taking merely what chances came in Iho way, the hag was increased
by six and a half braca At the moment I much regretted tliat we had not taken the hill better prepared ¡
with but one brace of dogs and little over a hundred cartridges no great result could possibly be anticipated.
Never during the autumns spent on the moors have I met with birds lying so well, and a heavy bag might
undoubtedly have been made had the whole day been devoted to the object. A start for the hill-side had not
been made till 10 A.jr., the early hours of the morning ha\ ing been p issed in searching oat some downy young of
the land-Kail for specimens, in a hayfleld on the low ground near the river. As the lodge was Hashed before
2 o'clock after leaving the moors, the twenty-six and a half brace (together with two hares and three rabbits
that had also been turned over—fifty-eight head in all) must have been ohtaiaed in little over a couple of
hours' shooting. Though so regardless of their own safety early in the season, by November Black Game have
gained both strength anil experience, and on most moors hard work will be needed to make a bag in
open weather. Without a thorough knowledge of the ground and the usual course followed by the birds when
on wing, driving is of litlle avail; by stalking the old cocks on the commanding positions they so frequently
pick out on the hill-side but few shots will lie obtained during the course of a day's work, so careful is the
watch kept by these wary birds. Severe weather, however, affects thein considerably: during heavy snowstorms
I have on more than one occasion seen them so cut up by exposure to the cold that they would sit in
the birch trees with their plumage pulfisl out till they resembled halls of feathers, paying little or no attention
even when approached within the distance of twenty or thirty yards. While returning home one wintry day ia
Difciuber ISM, from shooting on the marshy ground near the hanks of the Lyon, I observe 1 a couple of Greyhens
swaying backwards and forwards in the branches of a waving birch. A blinding squall or snow which
drifted as it fell was passing over at the time, and we arrived almost below the tree before the slightest signs
of alarm were exhibited, a shout heinsr needed to put them on wing. Further in the plantation, w here more
shelter could be obtained, several others were seen, seven or eight being perched among the branches of a
single tree. In all proliahility they were collected in still greater numbers in other parts or the wood, as
the packs appeared to have been entirely driven from the higher slopes along Iho hill-sides to which they
usually resorted.
In line wealbor during w inter and early spring the oldest birds collect at daybreak on some open spot and
go through the most extraordinary maiuruvres: at times these perform a neos appear to be indulged in simply
for amusement; as spring advances, honour, the animosity of the birds increases. In December 1*117, having
BLACK GllOCSli.
frequently watched these gatherings from a distance without a chance of closely inspecting the whole of the
proceedings, 1 carefully marked the place (a bare spot on a heather-clad slope of the hill-side facing towards
the south) where the birds had collccled for several mornings in succession, and ilclenninial In make
an attempt to witness their antics at close quarters. The ground having been previously looked over and
a good hiding-place decided upon, we arrived on the spot an hour before daybreak, and creeping into a regular
nest of rugs and plaids which the keepers had arranged, I was covered well over with dry heather and brakes,
and finally sprinkled with snow. The men were then sent away, nnd I quietly awaited the course of events.
Shortly after the first streak of light had appeared in the east a rush of wings was heard, ami a magnificent
old Blackcock passing within a few feet of my head settled on the open spaee some twenty yards in front.
For fully ten minutes there were no other arrivals, and I began to fear some other spot had been chosen for
the day's amusements; suddenly three or four more old cocks appeared on the scene, having probably alighted
quietly on the other side of the brae. For a few moments they remained silently watching one another,
apparently waiting for a signal from the leader. I next caught sight of two or three small parties Hying high in
the air direct from the lulls on the opposite side of a steep burn. After circling once round the spot they alighted
lower down on the hill, and some of them, principally Greyhens, remained where they settled, while the males
gradually ascended the rising ground, picking their way with the greatest care, carrying their tails high over
their hacks, either to show themselves to the greatest advantage or to avoid contact with the snow. These
were speedily followed by others, and they kept on gathering till between thirty and forty more wore collected
in a kind of irregular circle. The old cook who had first appeared, and who was evidently looked upon
as the master of the ceremonies, now advanced into the centre of the arena; his comb was elevated,
his wings drooped, his tail curled over his back, and every feather, even down to his toes, spread
out to its fuUest extent. After bowing all round, and apparently being satisfied that no one wished
to dispute his title to be considered the greatest swell present, ho proceeded to execute a kind of (MM
sen/, which scorned to consist of a kind of double shullle, hop, skip, and a jump, and was concluded by
an almost complete somersault; others with ruffled plumage then made their way towards the open
ground, strutting jauntily forward as if eager for the fray. Though the demeanour of the combatauts
was certainly threatening, their encounters appeared almost perfectly harmless. After a short interval
a dozen or more engaged in a general scrimmage or tournament which resulted in little or no damage
to any of the performers beyond the loss of a few feathers. The greater number of those that
had assembled then took their departure, rising on wing after uttering a few low notes and betaking
themselves to their respective haunts, the last sfragglcrs eventually dispersing over the adjacent hillside.
There had been little or no real fighting; but this may be accounted for, as the fiercest battles
are known to take place in early spring. Towanls the end of March a few years back, while passing
silently in a punt along the shores of Loch Shin just after daylight, I came unexpectedly upon a small
party of five or six Blackcocks with a few Greyhens on an open patch in a straggling hireh-plantatiou
that stretched down to the waler-sulo. Two of the cocks were indulging in the most savagely contested
fight I ever witnessed; tumbling over one another, either up or down, they bit and flapped with the
greatest fury, till rolling over a slope on the hank ihey were lost to view, Some of the Greyhens who
were spectators had perched themselves on the houghs of the trees and appeared to regard the combat with
the utmost attention.
On a ridge on the hill-side below sonic spreading beeches within view of the lodge at Innerwiek, in
Glenlyon, a few birds used often to gather on Quo still evenings in spring. During May I repeatedly watched
an old OOCk running round and round in circles with raised and outspread tail, evidently showing himself off