PRAIRIE-HEN. 1 1 9 



PINNATED GROUSE, OR PRAIRIE-HEN. 



(Tetrao cupido.} 



THIS bird is confined in its habitat almost en- 

 tirely to the Southern States and the plains of 

 the great West. It delights in making its home in 

 the open prairies, away from the running brooks and 

 the shade and cover of trees, dark vales or high pro- 

 jecting rocks. 



This variety of grouse is hunted in precisely the 

 same manner as the ruffed grouse, with setter and 

 pointer dogs. But these dogs are subjected to great 

 hardships in pursuing this game, and the former 

 particularly, as their long-feathered hair, so full and 

 thick, soon heats them to such an extent that they 

 suffer greatly for want of water, which is not found 

 where the pinnated grouse live. In fact, it is gener- 

 ally believed that this bird does not drink at all, but 

 sips in the dew and rain-drops from the grass and 

 other objects with their bills. 



These birds are wary and uncertain. To make 

 anything like a fair bag of them they must be hunted 

 with well-trained and hardy dogs, capable of enduring 

 long-continued thirst. They must also be hunted at 

 the right season, with wind and weather favorable. 

 They are very hardy birds, and the gun must shoot 

 powerfully in order to kill them at long distances. 



