120 GUN, KOD, AND SADDLE. 



great changes of temperature ; is not particular as 

 to choice of ground as long as it is open ; and plenty 

 of grain and grass seed can be obtained. Although 

 his range is now principally confined to the prairie 

 country of the United States, not being found in 

 great numbers till the edge of the Grand Prairie is 

 reached, still formerly he was found equally abund- 

 ant all over the open lands ; still, however, Long 

 Island and the island of Martha's Vineyard possess 

 some remnants, who long since would have disap- 

 peared but for the protection and care of the land- 

 owners in those places, who have endeavored to 

 prevent if possible the extinction of this valuable 

 bird upon their estates. I can not well imagine any 

 place so bleak in winter as the scrub uplands of 

 the two aforementioned islands, unless, perhaps, Mull 

 and Jura on the Scotch coast. The bird that could 

 with impunity withstand the rigors of the cold in the 

 former could doubtless with impunity do the same 

 in the latter. The pinnated grouse pairs in March, 

 and generally produces from twelve to fourteen 

 young at a brood ; the chicks very early take to 

 the wing, but their flight is weak and short until 

 they are more than half grown. During the infancy 

 of the family, the courage and artifice of the parent 



