404 



GAME-BIRDS. 



is soft, and unlike that of other game-birds, which are all provided with a muscular 

 gizzard. Captain Bendire gives the following account of the sage-cock's courtship : — 

 " Early one morning, in the first week of March 187.7, 1 had the long-wished-for 

 opportunity to observ^e the actions of a single cock, while paying court to several 

 females near him, and I presume he did his very best. His large, pale yellow 

 air-sacs were fully inflated, and not only expanded forward but apparently upward 

 as well, rising at least an inch above his head, which, consequently, was scarcely 

 noticeable, giving the bird an exceedingly peculiar appearance. He looked 

 decidedly top-heavy, and ready to topple over at the slightest provocation. The 



PRAIRIE-HENS. 



few long, spiny feathers along the edges of the air-sacs stood straight out, and the 

 greyish white of the upper-parts showed in strong contrast with the black of 

 the breast. His tail was spread out fan-like, at right angles from the body, and 

 was moved from side to side with a slow, quivering movement. The wings were 

 trailing on the ground. While in this position he moved around with short,, 

 stately, and hesitating steps, slowly and gingerly, evidently highly satisfied with 

 his performance, uttering, at the same time, low, grunting, guttural sounds, some- 

 what similar to the purring of a cat when pleased, only louder." 

 Sharp-Tailed Another North American type is the sharp-tailed grouse, of 



Grouse. which two forms are known, namely, the large dark northern race 

 {Pediocoetes phasianellws), inhabiting the interior of British North America, and 



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