OF NEW ENGLAND. 387 



Their chief haunts are evergreen-swamps, where, if approached 

 by man, they sometimes exhibit a surprising tameness, the 

 mother of a young brood not hesitating boldl}' to defend her 

 charge. Their habits are essentiall}' like those of our '" Par- 

 tridges," who likewise, in wild places, if disturbed while with 

 their young, often fly at the intruder, generally attacking his 

 feet, after which they immediately retreat to collect the little 

 ones, who have meanwhile hidden. 



(d). The Canada Grouse, like their better known relatives, 

 drum loudly ; at least I have strong reasons to believe so, with- 

 out having seen them in the act. Their ordinary note is a 

 chuck. 



11. CUPIDONIA 



(A) cupiDO. Pinnated Groxise. '■'■ Prairie Hen." 



(In New England, formerly somewhat common, but now 

 almost or quite extinct.) 



(«). About eighteen inches long. Above, marked trans- 

 versely' with black, white, and brown. Beneath, tawn}', whiten- 

 ing behind. Throat often unmarked, but breast, etc., barred 

 with white (and brown). Wings and tail, dull brown, generally 

 marked with white. $ , with long feathers on the neck, which 

 when erected, form two prominent "wings," also with red "eye- 

 brows," and beneath the "wings" a piece of skin, which can 

 be distended so as much to resemble a half-orange. 



(h). The eggs, which are laid on the ground, are brownish- 

 drab or lighter, and average about 1-65 X 1'35 of an inch. 



(c). The celebrated "Prairie Hens" are here included among 

 the birds of New England, only on account of their possible 

 presence on a few islands off the South-eastern Coast. I am 

 informed, however, that they no longer exist on Naushon, where 

 they are not known to have ever been indigenous, and that they 

 are probably extinct on Martha's Vine3'ard. Having never 

 seen these birds alive, I am obliged to draw my account from 

 other authors. The Pinnated Grouse show a marked dislike 

 for water, and choose dr}', wooded soils for their haunts, such 

 as are called "barrens." They feed chiefly upon berries, and 



