THE PINNATED GROUSE. 387 
flying, lying along the neck. But when these bags are inflated 
with air, in breeding-time, they are equal in size, and very much 
resemble in color, a middle-sized, fully ripe orange. By means of 
this curious apparatus, which is very observable several hundred 
yards off, he is enabled to produce the extraordinary sound men- 
tioned above, which, though it may easily be imitated, is yet diffi- 
cult to describe by words. It consists of three notes of the same 
tone, resembling those produced by the Night Hawks in their rapid 
descent ; each strongly accented, the last being twice as long as the 
others. When several are thus engaged, the ear is unable to dis- 
tinguish the regularity of these triple notes; there being, at such 
times, one continued bumming, which is disagreeable and perplex- 
ing, from the impossibility of ascertaining from what distance, or 
even quarter, it proceeds. While uttering this, the bird exhibits 
all the ostentatious gesticulations of a Turkey-cock ; erecting and 
fluttering his neck-wings, wheeling and passing before the female, 
and close before his fellows, as in defiance. Now and then are 
heard some rapid, cackling notes, not unlike that of a person tickled 
to excessive laughter; and, in short, one ‘can scarcely listen to 
them without feeling disposed to laugh from sympathy. These are 
uttered by the males while engaged in fight, on which occasion 
they leap up against each other, exactly in the manner of Turkeys, 
seemingly with more malice than effect. This bumming continues 
from a little before daybreak to eight or nine o’clock in the morn- 
ing, when the parties separate to seek for food. 
“ Fresh-ploughed fields, in the vicinity of their resorts, are sure 
to be visited by these birds every morning, and frequently also in the 
evening. On one of these I counted, at one time, seventeen males, 
making such a continued sound, as, I am persuaded, might have 
been heard for more than a mile off. The people of the Barrens 
informed me, that, when the weather becomes severe with snow, 
they approach the barn and farm-house, are sometimes seen sitting 
on the fences in dozens, mix with the poultry, and glean up the 
scattered grains of Indian corn, seeming almost half domesticated. 
At such times, great numbers are taken in traps. No pains, how- 
ever, or regular plan, has ever been persisted in, as far as I was 
informed, to domesticate these delicious birds. A Mr. Reed, who 
lives between the Pilot Knobs and Bairdstown, told me, that, a few 
