154 THE PINNATED GROUSE. 



teristic. Though very peculiar, it is termed tooting, 

 from its resemblance to the blowing of a conch or 

 horn from a remote quarter. The female makes her 

 nest on the ground, in recesses very rarely discover- 

 ed by men. She usually lays from ten to twelve 

 eggs. Their colour is of a brownish, much resem- 

 bling those of a guinea hen. When hatched, the 

 brood is protected by her alone. Surrounded by 

 her young, the mother bird exceedingly resembles a 

 domestic hen and chickens. She frequently leads 

 them to feed in the roads crossing the woods, on 

 the remains of maize and oats contained in the dung 

 dropped by the travelling horses. In that employ- 

 ment they are often surprised by the passengers. 

 On such occasions the dam utters a cry of alarm. 

 The little ones immediately scamper to the brush ; 

 and while they are skulking into places of safety, 

 their anxious parent beguiles the spectator by droop- 

 ing and fluttering her wings, limping along the path, 

 rolling over in the dirt, and other pretences of ina- 

 bility to walk or fly. 



" 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 

 veiy little underwood, they repair from the ad- 

 joining 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, 



