Bird - Lore 



I have met with the Pinnated Grouse casually in Saskatchewan, but not in 

 Alberta. Their presence, in the spring, can be easily known by their peculiar 

 resonant booming calls, resembling the syllables "mool-doon," with the second 

 note slightly higher than the first. The males have an air-sac on each side of 

 their necks, which they can inflate to the size of small oranges, and it is the 

 expulsion of the air from these sacs which makes the remarkable far-reaching 



calls; but, when not in use, each air- 

 sac is covered by a tuft of feathers. 

 These calls can be heard in every 

 direction, from early morning until 

 late at night. The Pinnated Grouse 

 also dance and display at recognized 

 meeting-places. The nest may be 

 found among long grass, and is simi- 

 lar in many respects to that of the 

 former species, and both are com- 

 monly referred to as "Prairie 

 Chickens." 



In the poplar woods and forests, 

 the common game-bird is the Gray 

 Ruffed Grouse {Bonasa umhellus uni- 

 belloides). Like the Pinnated Grouse 

 this bird also makes its presence 

 known in the spring; but in this case 

 the sound — closely resembling the 

 muffled noise of a distant motor- 

 cycle — is made by the wings. Stand- 

 ing on fallen logs among the trees, 

 with crests raised, black ruffs spread 

 to form collars, and tails raised and 

 spread like fans, the males make a 

 series of loud drumming sounds at 

 intervals, continuing throughout the 

 spring and summer months, even 

 after the young are hatched. When 

 silent, these birds are very difficult 

 to see, for they will stand absolutely 

 motionless upon the logs where their 

 gray and brown markings make them 

 practically invisible if there is any 

 undergrowth. In one way, they can 

 hardly be called sporting birds; for not 

 A SHARP-TAILED GROUSE IN A POPLAR Only wiU they ruu frequently in prefer- 



