PECULIARITIES IN PAIRING. 95 



fans; they strut about in a style resembling, as nearly 

 as small may be illustrated by great, the pomp of 

 the turkey-cock. They seem to vie with each other 

 in stateliness ; and as they pass each other, fre- 

 quently cast looks of insult, and utter notes of de- 

 fiance. These are the signals for battles. They 

 engage with wonderful spirit and fierceness. During 

 these contests, they leap a foot or two from the 

 ground, and utter a cackling, screaming, and dis- 

 cordant cry. They have been found in these places 

 of resort even earlier than the appearance of light in 

 the east. This fact has led to the belief that a part 

 of them assemble overnight. The rest join them in 

 the morning. This leads to the further belief that 

 they roost on the ground ; and the opinion is con- 

 firmed by the discovery of little rings of dung, ap- 

 parently deposited by a flock which had passed the 

 night together. After the appearance of the sun they 

 disperse. 



" These places of exhibition have been often dis- 

 covered by the hunters ; and a fatal discovery it has 

 been for the poor grouse. Their destroyers construct 

 for themselves lurking-holes made of pine branches, 

 called bough-houses, within a few yards of the parade. 

 Hither they repair with their fowling-pieces in the 

 latter part of the night, and wait the appearance of 

 the birds. Watching the moment when two are 

 proudly eyeing each other or engaged in battle ; or 

 when a greater number can be seen in a range, they 

 pour on them a destructive charge of shot. This 

 annoyance has been given in so many places and to 

 such an extent, that the grouse, after having been 

 repeatedly disturbed, are afraid to assemble. On 

 approaching the spot to which their instinct prompts 

 them, they perch on the neighbouring trees, instead 

 of alighting at the scratching- place; and it remains 

 to be observed, how far the restless and tormenting 



