196 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



themselves is most surprising. Frequently have I got un- 

 expectedly into the centre of a family, when up they would 

 rise, like a flight of bees, and as rapidly drop again ; certain- 

 ly you see the exact spot on which they have alighted 

 that tuft of grass, you believe, most surely contains one, 

 but search as you will, turn over carefully every blade, look 

 well about the roots all is useless, for no fledgeling will 

 you discover. 



At the commencement of the pairing season, particularly 

 if the weather is calm and cloudy, the male birds call all 

 day; theii note resembling the lowing of a cow, which can 

 be heard distinctly for over a mile. As the spring ad- 

 vances they confine this habit to evening and morning, but 

 by the time the brood is hatched, cease it altogether. The 

 peculiarity of the call of the males of this species is such, 

 that once heard, it is difficult to forget, particularly when 

 softened by distance. It is produced by forcing the air out 

 of two orange-colored receptacles placed on either side of 

 the throat, and which, when inflated, are as large in cir- 

 cumference as a man's finger, perfectly free from feathers 

 upon their surface, but hid when in a state of quiescence by 

 fan-shaped bunches of hackles that completely cover them.* 



The pinnated grouse is about the size of our pheasant. 

 However, they differ considerably, those birds that inhabit 

 Southern Illinois being at least one-fourth larger than those 

 obtained in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the North-west prai- 

 ries. They are of a beautiful mottled brown and fawn color, 

 frequently with white finger-marks on the upper portion of 

 the wings and back, are feathered down the legs to the 

 feet, have beautifully set-on small heads, with a slight crest, 

 and bright yellow iris. When standing, their attitude is 

 very erect, but graceful. On being flushed, they invariably 



* The most killing hackles for tying trout-flies. 



