430 



NOIlTir A.MEKICAN BIRDS. 



Their notes, at times, strongly resembled those of the common Hen. He 

 never met with them in any forest, nor have they been taken near the coast 

 of California. 



This species was first obtained by Lewis and ( 'lark's jjarly in their expe- 



Ceiitrocrrriis iirophmtianjtx. 



dition to the IJocky Mountains. It was afterwards met with by Douglas, 

 who published in tlie Linniean Transactions (XVI, p. 133) an account of its 

 habits. He described its flight as slow, unsteady, and as affording but little 

 amusement to the sportsman ; being a succession of tlutterings, rather than 

 anything else. They rise hurriedly, giving two or three flaps of tlio wing, 

 swinging from side to side in tlieir movement, and gradually falling, making 

 a whirring sound, at tlie same time uttering a cry of cuel--ci(cl-cHck, like the 

 common PJieasant. They jiair in March and April. 



At the mating-season the male is said to select some small eminence on 

 the banks of streams for the very singidar performances it goes through with 

 at that period in the presence of its mate. The wings are lowered and 

 dragged on the ground, making a buzzing sound ; the tail, somewhat erect, is 



