AVES— PINNATED GROUSE. 



603 



THE PINNATED GROUSE, OR HEATH HEN,i 



Is the individual known by the general name of grouse in New England. 

 Open dry plains, thinly interspersed with trees, or partially overgrown with 

 shrub oaks, are his favorite haunts. Accordingly he is found on the plains 

 in New Jersey, in the barrens of Kentucky, on the bushy plains of Long 

 Island, and in similar situations in Pennsylvania, Indiana territory, and 

 Upper Louisiana ; and, according to the late Governor Lewis, on the vast 

 plains of the Columbia. They dislike marshes and watery places. Their 

 great inducement in frequenting these plains, is probably the small acorn of 

 the shrub oak, the strawberries, whortleberries, and partridge berries, with 

 which they abound, and which constitute their principal food. 



The most remarkable circumstance relative to these birds, is the tv/o 

 extraordinary bags of skin which mark the neck of the male, and which no 

 Avriter has yet described. These appear to be formed by an expansion of 

 the gullet, and the outer skin of the neck, which hang loose when the bird 

 is at rest or flying. But when these are inflated, they very much resemble 

 a fully ripe orange. By means of these, he is enabled to produce a booming 

 sound, which consists of three notes, similar to those produced by the night 

 hawk. While uttering these, the bird exhibits all the gesticulations of the 

 turkey cock; erecting and fluttering his neck wings, wheeling and passing 

 before the females, and close before his fellows, as in defiance. Now and 

 then are heard some rapid cackling notes, not unlike that of some person 

 tickled to excessive laughter; in short, no one can listen to them Avithout 

 feeling disposed to laugh. 



Fresh ploughed fields are sure to be visited by these birds every morning. 

 On one of these, says Wilson, I counted seventeen males, making such a 



> Tetrao cupido, Lin. 



