38 GROUSE FAMILY. 



they are easily hunted out, and are readily set, as they are 

 not usually inclined to take wing. In the prairies, however, 

 they not unfrequently rise to the low boughs of trees, and 

 then, staring about without much alarm, they become an easy 

 prey to the marksman. 



The ordinary weight of a full-grown bird is about three 

 pounds, and they now sell, when they are to be had, in New 

 York and Boston, from three to five dollars the pair. They 

 have been raised under the common hen, but prove so 

 vagrant as to hold out no prospect of domestication. 



This species is common now only in the prairie region of Indi- 

 ana and Illinois and westward ; a few scattered flocks occur in the 

 adjacent States and in southwestern Ontario. 



It is supposed that the Pinnated Grouse, which occurred in the 

 Atlantic States in Nuttall's day, should be referred to the Heath 

 Hen, — a distinct race, a remnant of which is still found on Mar- 

 tha's Vineyard. 



HEATH HEN. 



Tympanuchus cupido. 



Char. Similar to the Prairie Hen, but reddish brown above, and 

 beneath rusty white, barred with dark reddish brown ; neck tufts composed 

 of four or five acutely lance-pointed feathers. 



Nest. In woodland of scrub-oak or pine ; a slight hollow, thinly lined 

 with leaves and feathers. 



£gg^- 6-8; yellowish green and unspotted ; 1.70 X 1.25. 



This interesting bird was discovered in 1885 by Mr. William 

 Brewster; or rather, to be more exact, at that date the discovery 

 was made that the birds of Martha's Vineyard were distinct from 

 the Western Prairie Hen, — distinct in coloration as well as in 

 habits, — the one being a bird of the open prairie, the other haunt- 

 ing groves of scrub-oak or low pines, and feeding largely on acorns. 



Mr. Brewster tells us ("Auk," January, 1885) that the bird is 

 common on Martha's Vineyard, and is so well protected as not 

 likely to become extinct. 



