90 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



generally seen them spread out and raise their tail, 

 and emit the pulmonic puff, lowering their tail and 

 other feathers immediately after. During clear nights, 

 or when there is moonshine, they perform this action 

 at intervals of a few minutes, for hours together, 

 without moving from the same spot, and indeed 

 sometimes without rising on their legs, especially 

 towards the end of the breeding season. The males 

 now become greatly emaciated, and cease to gobble, 

 their breast-sponge becoming flat. They then se- 

 parate from the hens, and one might suppose that 

 they had entirely deserted their neighbourhood. At 

 such seasons I have found them lying by the side of 

 a log, in some retired part of the dense woods and 

 cane thickets, and often permitting one to approach 

 within a few feet. They are then unable to fly, but 

 run swiftly, and to a great distance. A slow turkey- 

 hound has led me miles before I could flush the 

 same bird. Chases of this kind I did not undertake 

 for the purpose of killing the bird, it being then 

 unfit for eating, and covered with ticks, but with the 

 view of rendering myself acquainted with its habits. 

 They thus retire to recover flesh and strength, by 

 purging with particular species of grass, and using 

 less exercise. As soon as their condition is im- 

 proved the cocks come together again, arid recom- 

 mence their rambles *." 



Similar manners are not uncommon among other 

 species belonging to this group of birds (Rasores^ 

 ILLIGER). But several of these pair in the usual 

 way. Some of the grous family (Tetraonida, 

 LEACH) are polygamous, while others are monoga- 

 mous. In the moor-fowl (Tetrao Scoticus)^ for ex- 

 ample, which sometimes pairs so early as January f, 

 we have remarked, that the cock and hen keep 



* Ornith. Biogr. p. 5. 

 | Selby, Illustrations, p. 308. 



