THE GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 89 
with more malice than effect. This bumming continues from a little before 
daybreak to eight or nine o'clock in the morning, when the parties separate 
to seek for food. 
“ Fresh-ploughed fields, in the vicinity of their resorts, are sure to be vis- 
ited by these birds every morning, and frequently, also, in the evening. On 
one of these I counted, at one time, seventeen males, making such a con- 
tinued sound, as, Iam persuaded, might have been heard for more than a 
mile off. The people of the Barrens informed me that, when the weather 
becomes severe with snow, they approach the barn and farm-house, are 
sometimes seen sitting on the fences in dozens, mix with the poultry, and 
glean up the scattered grains of Indian corn, seeming almost half domesti- 
cated. At such times great numbers are taken in traps. No pains, how- 
ever, or regular plan, has ever been persisted in, as far as I was informed, 
to domesticate these delicious birds. A Mr. Reed, who lives between the 
Pilot Knobs and Bairdstown, told me that, a few years ago, one of his sons 
found a grouse’s nest with fifteen eggs, which he brought home, and imme- 
diately placed beneath a hen then sitting, taking away her own. The nest 
of the grouse was on the ground, under a tussock of long erass, formed 
with very little art, and few materials; the eges were brownish white, and 
about the size of a pullet’s. In three or four days the whole were hatched. 
Instead of following the hen, they compelled her to run after them, distract- 
ing her with the extent and diversity of their wanderings ; and it was a day 
or two before they seemed to understand her language, or consent to be 
guided by her. They were let out to the fields, where they paid little regard 
to their nurse; and, in a few days, only three of them remained. These 
became extremely tame and familiar, were most expert tlycatchers ; but, soon 
after, they also disappeared.” 
The Gallinaceous birds are all granivorous, feeding upon the produce of 
the various cerealia, grasses, &e., to which may be added roots, berries, and 
also insects and their larve; the limbs are formed for terrestrial habits, and 
the hind-toe, as a rule, is placed higher upon the tarsus than the plane of 
the anterior toes. The wings are mostly rounded, concave, and unfit for 
rapid or long-continued flight; though, to this rule, some few species afford 
exceptions. Formed for the ground, these birds walk well, and run with 
considerable rapidity ; the limbs are muscular; the body is stout and heavy ; 
the beak strong and horny, and at its base there is a tough membrane, in 
which the nostrils are situated. Most are polygamous, and the females lay 
several egos. The young are hatched in a state of considerable forward- 
ness, and follow the mother, who broods over them with her wings, and 
leads them in search of food (seeds and insects), which they themselves 
pick up. Many roost in trees, others on the ground exclusively. 
