190 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



the passion of the display increases, the bird performs 

 the most astonishing antics, such as leaping in the air 

 without effort of wings, rolling over and over, acting 

 withal as if beside himself with ardor. The males 

 engage in most desperate battles ; the engagement lasts 

 for hours, or until one is utterly exhausted, the feath- 

 ers of head, neck and breast strewing the ground. 

 A maneuver is for the pursuing bird to lead the other 

 off a great distance and suddenly fly back to the female, 

 who sits or feeds as unconcerned as it is possible for a 

 bird to do. She acts thoroughly the most heartless 

 coquette, while he is a most passionately devoted lover. 

 He will die rather than forsake her side, and often 

 places himself between the hunter and her, uttering 

 notes of warning for her to escape, while attention 

 is drawn to him, who is the more conspicuous. 



"When the young are with the parents they rely 

 upon their color to hide themselves among the nearly 

 similar vegetation from which they procure their food. 

 I am certain I have walked directly over young birds 

 which were well able to fly. If the parent birds are 

 first shot, the entire number of young may be secured, 

 as they will not fly until nearly trodden upon, and then 

 only for a few yards, while they may easily be seen. 

 I have found on two occasions an adult female with a 

 brood of thirteen young. All of the flocks were se- 

 cured without trouble. At other times only three or 

 four young would be found with both parents. The 

 young are very tender when first hatched; no amount 

 of most careful attention will induce them to eat, and 



