THE PRAIRIE-HEN. IGl 



Audubon cut the tips of the wings of sixty of these birds towards 

 the close of the summer, and turned them out into an enclosui-e, 

 where they remained quite contented the whole winter through, 

 and soon became sufficiently gentle to feed from the hands of his 

 wife. They appeared quite unmindful of their former state of 

 freedom, and conducted themselves very similarly to the tame 

 fowls, with which they often mingled on the most friendly footing. 

 In the spring, they "tooted" and strutted about in the most pom- 

 pous style imaginable, even as much so as if they were still in their 

 native haunts, and even coupled and hatched many broods. Their 

 pugnacious tempers would not permit them to quail even before 

 the threatening presence of the largest turkey, and they would not 

 unfrequently take a round or two with the dunghill-cocks of the 

 poultry-yard. The pinnated grouse, as the other variety, hatch 

 but one brood each season, except when disturbed, as they are fre- 

 quently, by the crows, hawks, polecats, raccoons, and other ani- 

 mals. When wandering about with their young, if interrupted, 

 they resort to the same artifices as the partridge to protect their 

 young. Their food consists of seeds of the sumach, grapes, grain, 

 wild strawberries, cranberries, partridge-berries, whortleberries, 

 blackberries, and young buds. They also partake of worms, 

 grasshoppers, flies, and insects generally. In the winter season 

 they eat acorns, the tender buds of the pine, clover-leaves, and, 

 when convenient to their haunts, will frequent buckwheat and 

 other stubbles. 



They are said to remain stationary during the whole year round, 

 and show no disposition to migrate or travel, as the ruffed grouse 

 or partridge. They affect the dryest situations, and avoid as far 

 as possible marshy or wet places, and partake very sparingly of 

 water ; in fact, depend entirely for a supply of this fluid from the 

 morning dew, which they collect from off the leaves of plants. 

 So dry are the situations which these birds generally frequent, that 

 it is absolutely necessary to carry water along for the dogs ; other- 

 wise, they will soon be entirely overcome by thirst. 



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