OF NEW ENGLAND. 387 
Their chief haunts are evergreen-swamps, where, if approached 
by man, they sometimes exhibit a surprising tameness, the 
mother of a young brood not hesitating boldly to defend her 
charge. Their habits are essentially like those of our ‘ Par- 
tridges,” who likewise, in wild places, if disturbed while with 
their young, often fly at the intruder, generally attacking his 
feet, after which they immediately retreat to collect the little 
ones, who have meanwhile hidden. 
(d). The Canada Grouse, like their better known relatives, 
drum loudly ; at least I have strong reasons to believe so, with- 
out having seen them in the act. Their ordinary note is a 
chuck. 
II. CUPIDONIA 
(A) cupipo. Pinnated Grouse. ‘ Prairie Hen.” 
(In New England, formerly somewhat common, but now 
almost or quite extinct.) 
(a). About eighteen inches long. Above, marked trans- 
versely with black, white, and brown. Beneath, tawny, whiten- 
ing behind. Throat often unmarked, but breast, etc., barred 
with white (and brown). Wings and tail, dull brown, generally 
marked with white. @, with long feathers on the neck, which 
when erected, form two prominent ‘‘ wings,” also with red ‘“ eye- 
brows,” and beneath the ‘* wings” a piece of skin, which can 
be distended so as much to resemble a half-orange. 
(6). The eggs, which are laid on the ground, are brownish- 
drab or lighter, and average about 1°65 & 1:35 of an inch. 
(c). The celebrated ‘‘ Prairie Hens” are here included among 
the birds of New England, only on account of their possible 
presence on a few islands off the South-eastern Coast. I am 
informed, however, that they no longer exist on Naushon, where 
they are not known to have ever been indigenous, and that they 
are probably extinct on Martha’s Vineyard. Having never 
seen these birds alive, I am obliged to draw my account from 
other authors. The Pinnated Grouse show a marked dislike 
for water, and choose dry, wooded soils for their haunts, such 
as are called “‘barrens.” ‘They feed chiefly upon berries, and 
