AVES—PINNATED GROUSE. 603 
TILE PLN NAT E.D..G.R O,US EO 1s, CH Be eg HEN 

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 two 
extraordinary bags of skin which mark the neck of the male, and which no 
writer 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 
“s 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, similaz 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 without 
feeling disposed to laugh. 
Fresh ploughed fields are sure to be visited by these birds everv morning. 
On one of these, says Wilson, I counted seventeen males, making such a 
— 


1 Tetrao cupido, Lin. 
