442 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



increasing as the country is settled and the land cultivated with grain. 

 Even in Illinois, where there has been a large increase of population during 

 the past ten years, these birds are known to have become much more 

 numerous. It is, however, probable that they will again be driven from 

 this region when the population becomes quite dense. Mr. Allen met 

 with this species in several points in Kansas and in Colorado, where they 

 had either just made their appearance, or where they had recently been 

 noticed, and were observed to be on the increase. The small remnants 

 left in Massachusetts are protected by law, which may preserve them a few 

 years longer ; and in Illinois and other Western States stringent provisions 

 seek to prevent their wanton destruction. -In Michigan, according to Mr. 

 D. D. Hughes, this Grouse is common in the two southern tiers of counties, 

 but is rarely met with in that State farther north, — an absence attributable to 

 the want of open country and suitable food, as west of Lake Michigan it is 

 found in great abundance much farther nortli. In the more southern portion 

 of the State it is already very rare, and in localities completely exterminated. 



Dr. Woodhouse found this bird quite abundant throughout the Indian 

 Territory ; more numerous, however, in the vicinity of settlements. During 

 the fall of 1849, as he was passing down the Arkansas Eiver, along the road 

 leading from Fort Gibson to Fort Smith, these birds were in large flocks, 

 feeding among the oaKs upon the acorns ; hundreds were to be seen at the 

 same time. It was also very common throughout Eastern Texas. 



Mr. Dresser found the Pinnated Grouse very common in travelling from 

 Brownsville to Victoria, after leaving the chaparral and entering the prairie 

 country. Throughout the wliole of the prairie country of Texas it is 

 abundant. 



They were found by Mr. Audubon especially abundant in the States of 

 Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, where his observations date back 

 more than half a century, and when the country was comparatively unset- 

 tled. It was there, he states, in what was then known as the Barrens of 

 Kentucky, that before sunrise, or at the close of the day, he " heard its curi- 

 ous boomings, witnessed its obstinate battles, watched it during the progress 

 of its courtships, noted its nest and eggs, and followed its young until, fully 

 grown, they betook themselves to winter quarters." 



When he first removed to Kentucky the Pinnated Grouse were so plen- 

 tiful, and were held in such low estimation, that no hunter deigned to shoot 

 them. They were, moreover, looked upon with ill-favor by the inhabitants 

 on account of tlie mischief they committed among the fruit-trees of the or- 

 chards during winter, when they fed upon the buds, or in the spring, when they 

 consumed the grain in the fields. In those days, in the winter, this Grouse 

 would enter the farm-yard and feed among the poultry, would even alight on 

 the house-tops or walk in the streets of the villages. On one occasion he 

 caught several alive in a stable at Henderson, where they had followed some 

 Wild Turkeys. Twenty-five years later, Mr. Audubon adds, in the same coun- 



