THE PINNATED GROUSE. 155 



sometimes to the number of forty or fifty. When 

 the dawn is past, the ceremony begins by a low toot- 

 ing from one of the cocks. This is answered by 

 another. They then come forth one by one from 

 the bushes, and strut about with all the pride and 

 ostentation they can display. Their necks are in- 

 cur vated ; the feathers on them are erected into a 

 sort of ruff; the plumes of their tails are expanded 

 like fans ; they strut about in a style resembling, as 

 nearly as small may be illustrated by great, the pomp 

 of the Turkey Cock. They seem to vie with each 

 other in stateliness ; and, as they pass each other, 

 frequently cast looks of insult, and utter notes of de- 

 fiance. These are the signals for battles. They 

 engage with wonderful spirit and fierceness. During 

 these contests they leap a foot or two from the 

 ground, and utter a cackling, screaming, and dis- 

 cordant cry. 



" They have been found in these places of resort 

 even earlier than the appearance of light in the East. 

 This fact has led to the belief that a part of them 

 assemble over night. The rest join them in the 

 morning. This leads to the farther belief that they 

 roost on the ground. And the opinion is confirmed 

 by the discovery of little rings of dung, apparently 

 deposited by a flock which had passed the night to- 

 gether. After the appearance of the sun they dis- 

 perse. 



" These places of exhibition have been often dis- 

 covered by the hunters ; and a fatal discovery it has 



