THE PINNATED GROUSE. 38T 



flying, lying along the neck. But when these bags are inflated 

 with air, in breeding-time, they are equal in size, and very much 

 resemble in color, a middle-sized, fully ripe orange. By means of 

 this curious apparatus, which is very observable several hundred 

 yards off, he is enabled to produce the extraordinary sound men- 

 tioned above, which, though it may easily be imitated, is yet ditfi- 

 cult to describe by words. It consists of three notes of the same 

 tone, resembling those produced by the Night Hawks in their rapid 

 descent ; each strongly accented, the last being twice as long as the 

 others. When several are thus engaged, the ear is unable to dis- 

 tinguish the regularity of these triple notes ; there being, at such 

 times, one continued bumming, which is disagreeable and perplex- 

 ing, from the impossibility of ascertaining from what distance, or 

 even quarter, it procteds. While uttering this, the bird exhibits 

 all the ostentatious gesticulations of a Turkey-cock ; erecting and 

 fluttering his neck-wings, wheeling and passing before the female, 

 and close before his fellows, as in defiance. Now and then are 

 heard some rapid, cackling notes, not unlike that of a person tickled 

 to excessive laughter ; and, in short, one can scarcely listen to 

 them without feeling disposed to laugh from sympathy. These are 

 uttered by the males while engaged in fight, on which occasion 

 they leap up against each other, exactly in the manner of Turkeys, 

 seemingly witli more malice than effect. This bumming continues 

 from a little before daybreak to eight or nine o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, when the parties separate to seek for food. 



" Fresh-ploughed fields, in the vicinity of their resorts, are sure 

 to be visited by these birds every morning, and frequently also in the 

 evening. On one of these I counted, at one time, seventeen males, 

 making such a continued sound, as, I am persuaded, might have 

 been heard for more than a mile off. The people of the Barrens 

 informed me, that, when the weather becomes severe with snow, 

 they approach the barn and farm-house, are sometimes seen sitting 

 on the fences in d'zens, mix with the poultry, and glean up the 

 scattered grains of Indian corn, seeming almost half domesticated. 

 A.t such times, great numbers are taken in traps. No pains, how- 

 ever, or regular plan, has ever been persisted in, as far as I was 

 informed, to domesticate these delicious birds. A Mr. Reed, who 

 lives between the Pilot Knobs and Bairdstown, told me, that, a few 



