COURTSHIP. 101 



up these air-sacs till they both look like two ripe 

 oranges on each side of the neck, projecting their 

 long black ears right forward, ruffling up all the 

 feathers of the body till they stand out straight, 

 and dropping their wings on the ground like a 

 turkey cock." 



" Then it is that the proud cock, in order to 

 complete his triumph, will rush forward at its 

 best speed for two or three rods through the 

 midst of the love-sick damsels, pouring out as he 

 goes a booming noise, almost a hoarse roar, only 

 more subdued, which may be heard for at least 

 two miles in the still morning air. This heavy 

 booming sound is by no means harsh or un- 

 pleasant, on the contrary it is soft and even 

 harmonious. When standing in the open prairie 

 at early dawn listening to hundreds of different 

 voices, pitched on difterent keys, coming from 

 every direction and from various distances, the 

 listener is rather soothed than excited. If this 

 sound is heavier than the deep keynotes of 

 a large organ it is much softer, though vastly 

 more powerful, and may be heard at a much 

 greater distance. One who has heard such a 

 concert can never mistake or forget it. 



*' Every few minutes this display is repeated. 

 I have seen not only one, but more than twenty 

 cocks going through this funny operation at 

 once, but then they seem careful not to run 

 n gainst each other, for they have not yet got to 

 the fighting-point. After a little while, the lady- 

 birds begin to show an interest in the proceed- 

 ings by moving about quickly a few yards at a 

 time, and then standing still a short time." 



