316 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



winter, the males consort with both females and young", in 

 search of food. In about four or five months they attain 

 to maturity ; and in the following spring, select their own 

 breeding-quarters, in the immediate neighborhood in which 

 they were reared. 



These birds are not at all particular about their roosting- 

 places, being as often found upon the ground as upon trees. 

 They fly as well by night as by day. Mr. William Street, 

 of Easthampton, Mass., as cited by Dr. Brewer, mentions 

 some curious facts connected with their history, which have 

 not fallen under our notice. He affirms that the male has a 

 decided partiality for the drumming place first chosen, to 

 which he resorts as long as he lives, persistently adhering 

 thereto, even when the forest has been cleared away by the 

 pioneer's axe. Further, that these birds are strongly attached 

 to locality, seldom straying farther than a hundred yards from 

 the male's drumming-place which apparently constitutes 

 the great centre around which they move and live. 



Like the common domestic Hen, these Grouse are strictly 

 gregarious, particularly during the autumnal and winter 

 months. When a flock is disturbed, its members separate, 

 and fly in all directions. After the lapse of a few minutes, 

 they become reassured, and gather simultaneously about the 

 same spot, travelling on foot. 



According to Mr. Auclubon, where these birds are very 

 numerous, they are induced by a scarcity of food to migrate 

 to other places. These migrations occur on the approach of 

 autumn, and only in mountainous districts where there ex- 

 ists a lack of sufficient food during the famine winter months. 

 About the middle of October, when these journeys are ef- 

 fected, the birds are in excellent order, and are much sought 

 after for the table. In October, 1820, Mr. Auclubon wit- 

 nessed an immense flock, migrating from Ohio, Indiana and 

 Illinois, into Kentucky. On the return of spring, those 

 which had escaped destruction, returned to their native haunts. 



The eggs of this bird are from seven to twelve in number, 



