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the " Heath Hen "as being very abundant some twenty or thirty years 

 since, but now consider it entirely extinct. Occasionally it is seen 

 in the neighborhood of Schooly's Mountains, New Jersey ; and it 

 is said that some are still found in Orange county, west from New- 

 burgh. In 1836, I found it very plentiful on the prairie lands in 

 the State of Illinois, and have since been informed that it is becom- 

 ing more scare in that section. It occasionally occurs in Pennsyl- 

 vania, and is said to range over the whole extent of the barren 

 lands of Kentucky. 



The Pinnated Grouse avoid those sections of country that are 

 covered with heavy timber, giving preference to the open dry 

 grounds covered with brush and shrubbery of various kinds. In 

 the month of April, which is the time it begins to pair, the loud 

 notes of the male are heard for a mile or more. At this time, those 

 bright orange-colored sacks on the sides of the throat are most ob- 

 servable, which they seemingly inflate for the purpose of producing 

 this loud tooting sound. 



About the first of May it commences building its nest, which is 

 placed on the open ground, in a tuft of grass, or some small shrub. 

 The eggs, which are from eight to twelve in number, resemble in 

 color those of the preceding species. 



Its food consists of berries of various kinds, and small acorns, the 

 produce of the shrub oak. 



At Martha's Vineyard I am informed that it is quite plentiful, 

 and during winter, a few are exposed for sale in the New York 

 markets, procured at that place. Its flesh is quite dark, but is in 

 high esteem, and commands from five to eight dollars a brace. 



