150 TETRAONIDtfl. 



country," for the first time ranging over the prairies, is 

 generally a good deal puzzled by tortoises, rattlesnakes, 

 and other novelties, which he points with vexatious per- 

 severance. 



A good prairie dog should stand steadily for any 

 length of time, not only because from the extent of 

 range it often takes some minutes to walk up to his 

 point, but because the height of the grass frequently 

 prevents his being seen ; for this cause also a dog dis- 

 playing a large proportion of white is preferable. 



When flushed, the birds rise suddenly with the heavy 

 whirr of the grouse, and not unfrequently with a loud 

 clucking noise, skimming away in a straight line, every 

 now and then appearing about to alight, but still sailing 

 on. The length of these flights is extremely deceptive, 

 owing to the vastness of the area, and to the unappre- 

 ciated velocity given to the bird by its weight and 

 strength of wing. On alighting they run very rapidly, 

 making for some hollow or tuft, but never take to the 

 thicket or close bushes, appearing to prefer a clear course 

 rather than any attempt at concealment, which might 

 afterwards prove an embarrassment. Single birds, par- 

 ticularly young ones, lie so close as to be with difficulty 

 found again, however carefully marked down or quickly 

 followed up. 



The coveys generally consist of from eight to twelve 



