84 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
they look and act as if the proper execution of the dance 
was the most serious work of their lives. As soon asa 
bird gets tired it jumps out, and gives a gentle cluck, 
which seems to signify that it has had enough and is de- 
lighted with the party. It acts asa spectator afterwards 
until it feels like renewing the amusement; but its time 
is not wasted, for it may be playing the gallant to the 
wall-flowers while resting. After the males have shown 
the hens their accomplishments, they select partners for 
the season, and devote the remainder of the year to rear- 
ing young waltzers. Their ball-rooms, which are called 
‘‘chicken stamping grounds” by ranchers and hunters, 
may be readily recognized by the manner in which the 
grass is trampled down, and the numerous runways in 
the adjoining bushes. Some old hunters say that each 
flock returns to its favorite stamping ground year after 
year, if it has not been disturbed much by cattle, but this 
statement seems somewhat exaggerated, or at least only 
partially true. 
The pinnated grouse have, it seems, the same predi- 
lection for the saltatorial art as their congeners, but there 
is this difference between their styles, according to a 
story told me by a very observant old granger, that the 
prairie fowl select an open ridge or knoll covered with 
short grass for their ball-room, and run over a large area, 
and, instead of pretending to fight, do so in reality. Ac- 
cording to his tale they indulge in dancing both morning 
and evening, and desist only when hunger calls them 
away. 
“T tell you what it is,” he exclaimed, while relating 
their peculiarities, ‘“‘they can leg the lancers better than 
you can, and better than some dancing masters, but per- 
haps they ain’t so stylish about it.” 
The sharp-tail species builds its nest in a hollow in the 
ground, in the midst of a bunch of weeds, or in a tussock 
