204 INSESSORES—CURSORES. 
This sound, which is produced only by the male 
bird, can be heard at the distance of nearly half a 
mile. 
The nest of this Grouse is usually placed in a tuft 
of tall prairie grass, or at the foot of a clump of low 
bushes. It is composed of dry leaves and grasses, 
neatly interwoven together. The female lays about 
twelve eggs, upon which she sits eighteen or nine- 
teen days. The young leave the nest at once upon 
being hatched, and soon become quite strong and 
active. If a female and brood are surprised on the 
prairie, the latter immediately spread their little 
wings and scatter in all directions for a short dis- 
tance, when they squat so close among the grass, 
that it is next to impossible to find them. In the 
Autumn several families club together and search 
for food in company until the Spring. 
We can hardly pass from the order of Gallinze 
without taking some notice of the Ptarmigan. There 
are several species of this beautiful and singular 
bird, which are occasionally found within the United 
States, but none of them are resident, their favor- 
ite haunts being among the icy regions of the north. 
The Willow Ptarmigan has been observed, during 
Winter, in the State of Maine and also in the Rocky 
Mountains. The White-tailed Ptarmigan is likewise 
a Rocky Mountain bird. They all, however, seem 
to prefer the more northern latitude of Hudson’s 
Bay and the Fur Countries as a breeding-place, only 
leaving it for the south for a short time during the 
severity of Winter. One species, the Rock Ptarmi- 
