PINNATED GROUSE 235 



in parties, from a dozen to fifty together, on some 

 high, dry knolls, where the grass is short, and their 

 goings on would make you laugh. The cock birds have 

 a loose patch of naked'yellow skin on each side of their 

 neck just below the head, and above these on either 

 side, just where the head joins the neck, are a few long 

 black feathers, which ordinarily lie back on the neck, 

 but which, when excited, they can pitch straight for- 

 ward. These yellow naked patches on either side of the 

 neck cover sacs which they can blow up like a bladder 

 whenever they choose. These are their ornaments, 

 which they display to the best advantage before the 

 gentler sex at these love feasts. This they do by blow- 

 ing up these air-sacs till they look like two ripe oranges, 

 on each side of the neck, projecting their long, black 

 ears right forward, ruffling up all the feathers of the 

 body till they stand out straight, and dropping their 

 wings to the ground like a turkey cock. Now they look 

 just lovely, as the coy, timid maidens seem to say, as 

 they cast side glances at them, full of admiration and 

 love. 



"Then it is that the proud cock, in order to complete 

 his triumph, will rush forward at his best speed for 

 two or three rods through the midst of the lovesick 

 damsels, pouring out as he goes a booming noise, al- 

 most a hoarse roar, only more subdued, which may be 

 heard for at least two miles in the still morning air. 

 This heavy booming sound is by no means harsh or 

 unpleasant; on the contrary, it is soft and even har- 

 monious. When standing in the open prairie at early 



