266 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



equally abundant along the river bottoms. The ma- 

 jority of these birds were ungrown up to September, 

 and scarcely any had at that date begun to assume their 

 new plumage. Up to this time I do not recollect that 

 I ever saw one alight in a tree ; and they were still, for 

 the most part, under charge of the parent, as separate 

 families, rather than as the indiscriminate packs in 

 which they afterward associate. With the advance of 

 the month these family associations seemed to break 

 up, the change of plumage was finished, the birds grew 

 strong of wing, and able in all respects to look after 

 themselves. No longer solicitous of shelter, they 

 haunted the innumerable ravines that make down to 

 the streams, and strolled in company far out on the 

 prairie. In this region, at least, they showed little 

 wariness all through the month. I could generally 

 walk up to a covey in fair view on the bare prairie, even 

 to within a few feet, before they would fly, and they 

 seldom went far before realighting. Their appearance 

 when not obscured by the herbage is characteristically 

 peculiar. They seem to stand remarkably high on their 

 legs, and generally carry their short, pointed tail some- 

 what elevated; the singularity is increased when the 

 long neck is outstretched, as it generally is when they 

 are on the lookout. On alighting after being flushed, 

 if not much alarmed, they often stand motionless at 

 full height, but if badly scared, squat closely, and are 

 then difficult to find if not exactly marked down. If 

 without a dog, one may pass and repass among them 

 without finding one, unless he happen to stumble on 



