146 TETRAONID^ : GROUSE. 



PRAIRIE HEN. 



CUPIDONIA CUPIDO (Z.) Bd. 



Char. Larger tlian the Ruffed Grouse. Tail very short. Legs 

 feathered to the toes. A tuft of long pointed feathers on each 

 side of the neck, beneath which is a naked space capable of great 

 inflation. Plumage of the under parts barred transversely. 



Writing in 1868, Dr. CoueS- speaks of the Prairie 

 Fowl in the following terms : " This species is still 

 known to reside in certain localities in New England, 

 though much less numerous than formerly, and doubtless 

 destined shortly to become extinct." He cites Martha's 

 Vineyard and Naushon, as well as Long Island, upon 

 the testimony of previous writers (Pr. Essex Inst., v, 

 1868, p. 287). Mr. Allen had before stated it to be 

 " nearly extinct in Massachusetts." A few, he said, 

 still occasionally visit the southeastern part of the State 

 from Long Island, where the bird still lived at that 

 date (Pr. Essex Inst, iv, 1864, p. 85). In 1839, ac- 

 cording to the Rev. W. B. O. Peabody, the only place 

 where it was still found was Martha's Vineyard and one 

 small island near it, though once very common in Massa- 

 chusetts (Rep. B. Mass., 1839, p. 355). Mr. Merriam's 

 advices are as follows : — 



" The Prairie Chicken, or Pinnated Grouse, Cupidonia 

 cupido (Linn^) B., was formerly a resident of New Eng- 

 land, but, like the Wild Turkey, was exterminated many 

 years ago — at least so far as the mainland is concerned, 

 for it is said that a few still exist on some of the islands 

 south of Cape Cod (Naushon, for example, and perhaps 

 Martha's Vineyard). However, it is pretty certain that 

 many years have elapsed since the last ' wild chicken ' 



