DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 



The eggs under consideration are so characteristic in size, shape, ground-color, and markings, that 

 identification is easy. When compared with the eggs of the Ruffed Grouse, they are seen to be larger, 

 darker in ground-color, and generally more or less speckled; differences which are material and striking. 



REMARKS : 



The three eggs illustrated, Fig. 3, Plate LXIII, were taken in Indian Territory. They are said 

 to represent the average sizes, shapes, ground-colors, and markings. 



The following is copied from "North American Birds," page 444. "The young broods when come 

 upon suddenly and taken by surprise, instantly scatter and squat close to the ground, so that, without 

 a dog, it is impossible to find them. The mother gives a single loud chuck as a signal of danger, and 

 the young birds rise on the wing and fly a few yards in different directions, and then keep themselves 

 perfectly still and quiet until the mother recalls them by a signal, indicating that the peril has passed. 

 In the meanwhile she resorts to various devices to draw the intruder away from the place. 



" The Pinnated Grouse is said to be easily tamed, and may be readily domesticated, though I do 

 not know that the experiment has been thoroughly tried. Mr. Audubon once kept sixty of them in a 

 garden near Henderson, Kentucky. Within a week they became tame enough to allow him to approach 

 them without being frightened. lie supplied them with abundance of corn and other food. In the course 

 of the winter they became so gentle as to feed from his hand, and walked about his garden like so 

 many tame fowl, mingling occasionally with the poultry. In the spring they strutted, * tootted,' and 

 fought as if in their wild state. Many eggs were deposited, and a number of young buxls were hatched 

 out; but they proved so destructive to the vegetables that the experiment was given up and the Grouse 

 were killed. The male birds were conspicuous for their courage, and would engage in contest with the 

 Turkey cocks, and even with the dunghill cock, rather than yield the ground." 



260 . 



