94 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



grouse to come towards me, whilst imitating the 

 booming sounds of that bird *.' J 



The account given of the pairing of the pinnated 

 grouse (Tetrao cupido), by Dr. S. Mitchell of New 

 York, is worth extracting. " The season for pairing," 

 says the Doctor, " is in March, and the breeding 

 time is continued through April and May. Then the 

 male grouse distinguishes himself by a peculiar sound. 

 When he utters it, the parts about the throat are 

 sensibly inflated and swelled. It may be heard on a 

 still morning for three or more miles ; some say they 

 have perceived it as far as five or six. This noise is 

 a sort of ventriloquism. It does not strike the ear of 

 a by-stander with much force ; but impresses him 

 with the idea, though produced a few rods from him, 

 of a voice a mile or two distant. This note is highly 

 characteristic. Though very peculiar, it is termed 

 tooting, from its resemblance to the blowing of a 

 conch or horn, from a remote quarter.'' 



" During the period of mating,'' he continues, 

 " and while the females are occupied in incubation, 

 the males have a practice of assembling, principally 

 by themselves. To some select and central spot, 

 where there is little underwood, they repair from the 

 adjoining district. From the exercises performed 

 there, this is called a scratching-place. The time of 

 meeting is the break of day. As soon as the light 

 appears, the company assembles from every side, 

 sometimes to the number of forty or fifty. When 

 the dawn is past, the ceremony begins by a low 

 tooting 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 incur- 

 vated ; the feathers on them are erected into a sort 

 of ruff; the plumes of their tails are expanded like 

 * Ornith. Biog. p. 215. 



