494 PINNATED GROUS. 



The Pinnated Grous forms its nest, according to the latitude of the 

 place, between the beginning of April and the 25th of May. In Kentucky 

 I have found it finished and containing a few eggs at the period tirst 

 mentioned, but I think, taking the differences of seasons into considera- 

 tion, the average period may be about the first of May. The nest although 

 carelessly formed of dry leaves and grasses, interwoven in a tolerably neat 

 manner, is always carefully placed amidst the tall grass of some large 

 tuft, in the open ground of the Prairies, or at the foot of a small bush in 

 the barren lands. The eggs are from eight to twelve, seldom more, and 

 are lai'ger than those of the Tetrao umbellus, although nearly of the same 

 colour. The female sits upon them eighteen or nineteen days, and the 

 moment the young have fairly disengaged themselves, leads them away 

 from the nest, when the male ceases to be seen with her. As soon as 

 autumn is fairly in, the different families associate together, and at the 

 approach of winter I have seen packs composed of many hundred indivi 

 duals. 



When surprised, the young squat in the grass or weeds, so that it is 

 almost impossible to find any of them. Once, while crossing a part of the 

 barrens on my way homewards, my horse almost placed his foot on a 

 covey that was in the path. I observed them, and instantly leaped to the 

 ground ; but notwithstanding all my endeavours, the cunning mother 

 saved them by a single cluck. The little fellows rose on the wing for 

 only a few yards, spread themselves all round, and kept so close and 

 quiet, that, although I spent much time in search for them, I could not 

 discover one. I was much amused, however, by the arts the mother em- 

 ployed to induce me to leave the spot where they lay concealed, when per- 

 haps I was actually treading on some of them. 



This species never raises more than one brood in the season, unless 

 the eggs have been destroyed, in which case the female immediately calls 

 for her mate, and produces a second set of eggs, generally much smaller 

 in number than the first. About the 1st of August, the young are as 

 large as our little American Partridge, and are then most excellent eat- 

 ing. They do not acquire much strength of wing until the middle of 

 October, and after that period they become daily more difficult to be ap- 

 proached. Their enemies are at this season very numerous, but the 

 principal are the Polecat, the Racoon, the Weasel, the Wild Cat, and 

 various Hawks. 



