TETRAONID.E — THE GROUSE. 443 



try where they had been so very abundant, scarcely one could be found. Mr. 

 Audubon speaks of their selling in Eastern markets, in 1840, at from five to 

 ten dollars per pair. This is so no longer, facilities in railroad transportation 

 and their continued abundance at the West rendering them a comparatively 

 plentiful and cheap article of food. 



Mr. Audubon mentions that at the same period they were still to be met 

 with in some portions of New Jersey, in the " brushy " plains of Long Island, 

 on Mount Desert Island in the State of Maine, and also in another tract of 

 barren country near Mar's Hill in the same State. In regard to the two last- 

 named localities he may have been misinformed. 



Mr. Lawrence mentions this species as still occurring in the vicinity of New 

 York City. Mr. Turnbull mentioned it as now very rare, but occasionally met 

 with, in the counties of Monroe and Northampton in Pennsylvania, and on 

 the plains in New Jersey. It is not referred to by either Professor Verrill 

 or Mr. Boardman as occurring in any part of Maine. It is, however, given 

 by Mr. Mcllwraith as an occasional visitor near Hamilton, in Canada, on the 

 western frontier, a few individuals being occasionally observed along the banks 

 of the St. Clair River, but not known to occur farther east. 



Mr. Audubon also mentions having found these birds abundant in all the 

 vast plains bordering on the prairies of the Arkansas Eiver, and on those of 

 the Opelousas in Louisiana. 



In the earliest days of spring, even before the snows have aU been melted, 

 these birds no longer keep in large flocks, but separate into smaller parties, 

 and the mating-season commences, during which their manners, especially 

 those of the male, are very peculiar and striking. A particular locality is 

 selected, to which they resort until incubation has commenced. The males 

 meet in this place, and engage in furious battle with one another. At this 

 season they are especially conspicuous for their great pomposity of bearing ; 

 with tails outspread and inclined forward to meet the expanded feathers of 

 their neck, and with the globular, orange-colored, bladder-like receptacles of 

 air on their necks distended to their utmost capacity, and issuing a peculiar 

 sound, spoken of as looming, these birds strut about in the presence of one 

 another with various manifestations of jealous dislike and animosity, soon 

 ending in furious contests. Their wings are declined, in the manner of the 

 Cock-Turkey, and rustle on the ground as the birds pass and repass in a rapid 

 manner ; their bodies are depressed, and their notes indicate their intense ex- 

 citement. Upon the appearance of a female answering to their calls, they at 

 once engage in their desperate encounters. They rise in the air and strike 

 at one another in the manner of a gamecock, and several engage in a mis- 

 cellaneous scrimmage, until the Aveaker give way, and, one after another, seek 

 refuge in the neighboring bushes, tlie few remaining victors discontinuing 

 their contests as if from sheer exhaustion. 



The '■' booming " or " tooting " sounds made by these birds is heard before 

 daybreak, and also at all hours before sunset, in places where they are 



