PRAIRiE HEN; PINNATED GROUSE 
305. Tympanuchus americanus. 18 in. 
Tufts of neck feathers rounded or square at the 
ends, long on the males, and short on the females. 
Above, barred with brownish-black and white or buffy 
white, the bars being of about equal width; top of 
head barred black and grayish. Female differs from 
the male in having the tail feathers barred, whereas 
they are black in the male. Found locally throughout 
the prairie regions of the Mississippi Valley north to 
Manitoba. Owing to the immense numbers shot for 
sale in eastern markets, they have become exterminated 
in many places where they were formerly abundant. Male 
birds have a loose sae or naked skin beneath the tufts 
of feathers on the neck; they inflate these to the size of 
small oranges, and then produce a loud, hollow, reso- 
nant booming sound. 
Nest.—Anywhere on the ground on the prairie; eggs 
olive-buff, finely specked with brown. 
Range.—From La. and Tex. north to Manitoba and 
Dakota. 305. Attwater Prairie Hen, smaller and 
darker, is found in Louisiana and Eastern Texas. 
