172 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



to procure a good supply of theni. In tlie spring of 

 tlie year these birds assemble together at sunrise and 

 sunset, in parties of from twenty to thirty, at some 

 favourite spot, generally a little hillock, or rising 

 ground, and dance — yes, dance like mad ! The 

 prairie grouse is a running bird, and does not ordi- 

 narily progress by hopping ; but on these festive 

 occasions, they open their wings, put both feet 

 together, and hop like men in sacks, or the birds in 

 a pantomime, or " The Perfect Cure," up to one 

 another, waltz round, and "set" to the next! A 

 prairie chicken dance is a most ludicrous sight, and 

 whilst they are engaged in it, they become so 

 absorbed in the performance that it is easy to 

 approach them. Their places of rendezvous are 

 recognisable at once from the state of the ground, 

 the grass being beaten perfectly flat in a circular 

 patch, or worn away by the constant beating of 

 feet. 



At the present juncture we took advantage of 

 their weakness for a social hop, and broke up the 

 ball in a most sanguinary manner, justified, we hope, 

 by the dire necessity. We never, however, took this 

 mean advantage of them except when driven by 

 actual hunger to obtain food in the best manner 

 we could. 



The prairie was at this time very beautiful, being 

 covered with the large blue flowers of a species of 

 anemone. The grouse feed greedily upon them when 

 in bloom, and we always found their crops full of 

 them. 



