WILD BIRDS SUSCEPTIBLE OF DOMESTICATION. 



2<>f, 



with great vigor through the woods, beyond 

 reach of view before it alights. They are ex- 

 ceedingly fond of the seeds of grapes, and eat 

 chestnuts, blackberries, and ants. In the fall 

 they feed on various kinds of berries, and on 

 the buds of the birch and apple-tree ; the lat- 

 ter often imparting a bitter, disagreeable flavor 

 to their flesh. 



The ruffed grouse is eighteen inches long, 

 and in best condition in the months of October 

 and November, when they feed on whortle 

 and partridge berries, the last of which give 

 to their flesh a peculiar and delicate flavor. 

 The general plumage is variegated with trans- 

 verse markings of black, reddish-brown, and 

 white. The upper parts of the body are of a 

 bright rust color, marked with spots of white. 

 The under parts are white, and the tail beautiful- 

 ly marked with black. There are tufts, or wing- 

 lets, on each side of the neck, which it occa- 

 sionally raises, composed of feathers, velvet- 

 black, with green reflections. 



The female is paler tinted than the male ; 

 the shoulder tufts are smaller, and of an orange- 

 brown. The hen breeds in May, artfully con- 

 cealing her nest, which is placed on the ground 

 under brushwood, on a tussock of long grass, 

 and formed with little art; the eggs are from 

 ten to fifteen in number, and of a brownish- 

 white. She carefully attends her brood, and, 

 like the partridge of Europe, put various ma- 

 noeuvres in practice, such as fluttering on the 

 ground, as if a wing or a leg were broken, in or- 

 der to decoy intruders from the place of their 

 concealment. 



THE PRAIRIE HEN. 



This species is known under the various 

 names of grouse, pinnated grouse, heath hen, 

 and prairie hen, in different sections of this 

 country. In the State of New York they are 

 now almost exterminated. The specimen fig- 

 ured was one which was killed on Long Isl- 

 and in 1840, and was probably the last of its 

 race in that district. It is still found in a 

 few of the Atlantic States, in a few of the 

 islands off the coast of Massachusetts, and the 

 mountainous regions of Pennsylvania. They 

 are also said to have been recently seen at 



Schooley's Mountain, in New Jersey, and a few 

 are also said to linger about Orange County, 

 New York. They are so readily killed that they 

 soon disappear as the country becomes settled. 



These birds are now found in great numbers 

 on the luxuriant plains and prairies of Illinois, 

 Indiana, and the vast and remote plains of the 

 Columbia River; open, dry plains, interspersed 

 with trees, or partially overgrown with shrub- 

 oak, and prairie being their favorite haunts. In 

 these localities they find food and shelter. In 

 severe weather these birds approach barns and 

 farm-houses, mix with the poultry to glean up 

 the scattered grains of Indian corn, and seem 

 almost domesticated. Many are at this time 

 taken in traps, and the gun thins their numbers. 

 Since the introduction of railroads, vast num- 

 bers of these delicious birds find their way to 

 New York and other eastern cities, and are high- 

 ly appreciated by those who are fond of game. 



The male of the prairie hen weighs about 

 three pounds and a half. The neck is furnish- 

 ed with a sort of winglet, composed of eighteen 

 feathers, of which five are black, and the rest, 

 which are shorter, black streaked with brown. 

 The head is slightly crested, and over each eye 

 is a semicircular comb of rich orange. Dur- 

 ing the pairing season, while uttering strange 

 sounds, each strongly accented, the cock ex- 

 hibits all the ostentatious gesticulations of a 

 turkey-cock, erecting and fluttering his neck- 

 wings, or pointed frills, and passing and strut- 

 ting before his fellows as if in defiance. Now 

 and then are heard some cackling notes, chief- 

 ly uttered by the males while engaged in battle, 

 on which occasion they leap up against each 

 other exactly in the same manner as turkeys, 

 but seemingly with more malice than effect. 

 The males begin their call before daybreak, and 

 continue until eight or nine in the morning, 

 when the parties separate to seek for food. 



The hen of this species builds her nest on tht- 

 ground, under brushwood, or a tussock of lon^ 

 grass, depositing from ten to fifteen eggs, of it 

 dull, brownish color, upon which she sits eight- 

 een or nineteen days. The young form coveys, 

 or packs, which separate on the approach of 

 spring. 



Description. Body robust; head, with its- 



