Bra] AND SYMBOLS. 3 t 



The Destiny of the Braggadocio. 



The ruffled grouse (Bonasia umbellus) found in the United 

 States of America measures about eighteen inches in length, 

 and furnishes an exceedingly delicate food. The most remark- 

 able of the American species is the pinnated grouse (Tetraro 

 cupido), which is found, though rarely, in many parts of the 

 United States. A remarkable habit of these birds is thus 

 described by Mr. Mitchell in Wilson's American Ornithology : 

 "During the period of mating, and while the females are 

 occupied in incubation, the males have a practice of assembling 

 principally by themselves. To some select and central spot, 

 where there is very little underwood, they repair from the 

 adjoining district. From the exercises performed there, this is 

 called a scratching place. The time of meeting is the break 

 of day. As soon as the light appears, the company assembles 

 from every side, sometimes to the number of forty or fifty. 

 When the dawn is past, the ceremony begins with a low tooting 

 from one of the cocks ; this is answered by another. They 

 then come forth one by one from the bushes and strut about 

 with all the pride and ostentation they can display. Their 

 necks are incurvated ; the feathers on them are erected into a 

 sort of ruff ; the plumes of their tails are expanded like fans ; 

 they strut about in a style resembling, as nearly as small may 

 be illustrated by great, the pomp of the turkey-cock. They 

 seem to vie with each other in stateliness ; and, as they pass 

 each other, frequently cast looks of insult, and utter notes of 

 defiance. These are the signals for battles. They engage with 

 wonderful spirit and fierceness, leaping a foot or two from the 

 ground, and uttering a cackling, screaming, and discordant 

 cry." Occasionally, however, these exhibitions of pride receive 

 rather an unpleasant interruption; for the hunters often find 

 out the scratching places, and by concealing themselves over- 

 night, with their guns, in huts of pine branches, within a few 

 yards of the spot, deal wholesale destruction upon the unfor- 

 tunate birds, whilst these are engaged in strutting about or 

 fighting. It is the destiny of the braggadocio to be caught in 

 his work. Whether the braggadocio be feathered or human, 

 the end must be the same. Noise, swagger, vainglorying, and 



