238 



VERTEBRATA. 



Iravi'liiif nnionrr the inoiintaiiis that boiiiici tlio Siisqucliaiiiia, I was always able to furnish myself 

 with an ahiimiaiit siii>j>ly of tlicso birds every nioriiiiig, without leaving the path. If the weather 

 bo foijgy or lowering, they are sure to ba seen in sueh situations. They generally move along 

 with great statcliness, their broa<l, fan-like tail spread out. The drumming, as it is usually called, 

 is a singularity of this speeies. This is perfurnied by the male alone. In walking through soli- 

 tary woods trequented by these birds, a stranger is surprised by suddenly hearing a kind of 

 thumping, very similar to that produced by striking two full-blown ox-bladders together, but much 

 louder ; the strokes at first are slow and distinct, but gradually increase in rapidity, till they run 

 into each other, resembling the rumbling sound of very distant thunder, dying away gradually on 

 the ear. After a few minutes' pause this is again repeated, and, in a calm day, may be heard 

 nearly half a mile off. This drumming is most common in spring, and is the call of the cock to 

 liis favorite t'emale. It is produced in the following manner : the bird, standing on an old, pros- 

 trate log, generally in a retired and sheltered situation, lowers his wings, erects his expanded tail, 

 contracts liis throat, elevates the two tufts of feathers on the neck, and inflates his whole body, 

 something in the manner of the turkey-cock, strutting and wheeling about with great stateliness. 

 After a few maneuvers of this kind, he begins to strike with his stiffened wings in short and quick 

 strokes, which become more and more rapid until they run into each other, as has been already 

 described. This is most common in the morning and evening, though I have heard them drum- 

 ming at all hours of the day. By means of this, the gunner is often led to the place of his 

 retreat ; thougli, to those unacquainted with the sound, there is great deception in the supposed dis- 

 tance, it generally appearing to be much nearer than it really is." 



PRAIRIE HENS. 



The Pinnated Grouse— T'. cupido of De Kay and oihors—Cupidonia cupido of Linnseus, 

 Catalogue of the Smithsonian Institution, &c.— is eighteen inches long ; blackish-brown, bounded 

 with reddish, above ; dark brown beneath ; the eggs are eight to twelve, of a dull brown color; the 



