THE GROUS. 31 



naked skin, about the size and colour of an orange ; 

 the tail is short, and of a pale brown. 



What is the form of this Grous ? 



The form of the Pinnated Grous, as well as its col- 

 our, very much resemble those of the Partridge. 



Where is this bird found ? 



This bird is found in several parts of the United 

 States, but is scarce, and only inhabits particular 

 places. 



The figure of this bird is from Wilson. It is a male, 

 and represented in the act of strutting. The neck- 

 wings are raised up, so that the peculiar yellow spot 

 under them is to be seen. The principal wings are 

 partly spread, and pushed towards the ground, so as 

 nearly to hide the legs. The head and tail are raised 

 high, giving him on the whole a very proud, and pom- 

 pous appearance. 



Mr. Wilson states, that when he first saw a number 

 of these birds, they were in the act of strutting, and 

 that the figure they cut was so novel and singular, that 

 instead of shooting at them, he took out his paper and 

 drew the picture of one on the spot. 



This Grous is very particular in the selection of its 

 place of residence. Open, dry plains, with only a 

 few trees on them, but which are overgrown with 

 shrubs, are its favourite haunts. They are never 

 found in high forests, nor in low marshy places. Pro- 

 bably the reason for this may be that they fly in a 

 straight line, their wings not being calculated to make 

 short turns among the trees of a thick forest. And, 

 their food is not found in marshy ground, as it consists 

 chiefly of the small acorns which grow on the shrub 



V 



