32 PINNATED GROUS. 



or the sight of their wounded and dead fellows would rouse 

 them to flight. It has further been remarked, that when a com- 

 pany of sportsmen have surrounded a pack of Grouse, the birds 

 seldom or never rise upon their pinions while they are encir- 

 cled; but each runs along until it passes the person that is nearest, 

 and then flutters off with the utmost expedition. 



" As you have made no inquiry of me concerning the orni- 

 thological character of these birds, I have not mentioned it, 

 presuming that you are already perfectly acquainted with their 

 classification and description. In a short memoir written in 

 1803, and printed in the eighth volume of the Medical Reposi- 

 tory, I ventured an opinion as to the genus and species. 

 Whether I was correct is a technical matter, which I leave you 

 to adjust. I am well aware that European accounts of our pro- 

 ductions are often erroneous, and require revision and amend- 

 ment. This you must perform. For me it remains to repeat my 

 joy at the opportunity your invitation has afforded me to con- 

 tribute somewhat to your elegant work, and at the same time 

 to assure you of my earnest hope that you. may be favoured 

 with ample means to complete it. 



"SAMUEL L. MlTCHILL." 



Duly sensible of the honor of the foregoing communication, 

 and grateful for the good wishes with which it is concluded, I 

 shall now, in further elucidation of the subject, subjoin a few 

 particulars properly belonging to my own department. 



It is somewhat extraordinary that the European naturalists, 

 in their various accounts of our different species of Grous, 

 should have said little or nothing of the one now before us, 

 which in its voice, manners, and peculiarity of plumage, is the 

 most singular, and in its flesh the most excellent, of all those 

 of its tribe that inherit the territory of the United States. It 

 seems to have escaped Catesby during his residence and differ- 

 ent tours through this country, and it was not till more than 

 twenty years after his return to England, viz. in 1743, that he 

 first saw some of these birds, as he informs us, at Cheswick, 

 tln seat of the earl of Wilmington. His lordship said they came 





