84 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



they look and act as if the proper execution of the dance 

 was the most serious work of their lives. As soon as a 

 bird gets tired it jumps out, and gives a gentle cluck, 

 which seems to signify that it has had enough and is de- 

 lighted with the party. It acts as a spectator afterwards 

 until it feels like renewing the amusement; but its time 

 is not wasted, for it may be playing the gallant to the 

 wall-flowers while resting. After the males have shown 

 the hens their accomplishments, they select partners for 

 the season, and devote the remainder of the year to rear- 

 ing young waltzers. Their ball-rooms, which are called 

 "chicken stamping grounds" by ranchers and hunters, 

 may be readily recognized by the manner in which the 

 grass is trampled down, and the numerous runways in 

 the adjoining bushes. Some old hunters say that each 

 flock returns to its favorite stamping ground year after 

 year, if it has not been disturbed much by cattle, but this 

 statement seems somewhat exaggerated, or at least only 

 partially true. 



The pinnated grouse have, it seems, the same predi- 

 lection for the saltatorial art as their congeners, but there 

 is this difference between their styles, according to a 

 story told me by a very observant old granger, that the 

 prairie fowl select an open ridge or knoll covered with 

 short grass for their ball-room, and run over a large area, 

 and, instead of pretending to fight, do so in reality. Ac- 

 cording to his tale they indulge in dancing both morning 

 and evening, and desist only when hunger calls them 

 away. 



*'I tell you what it is," he exclaimed, while relating 

 their peculiarities, " they can leg the lancers better than 

 you can, and better than some dancing masters, but per- 

 haps they ain't so stylish about it. " 



The sharp-tail species builds its nest in a hollow in the 

 ground, in the midst of a bunch of weeds, or in a tussock 



