1 91 The Grouse Family 



young fellows make fool — but, there, I've said 

 enough, suh, quite enough. Good night, suh." 



" Good night, and many thanks, Colonel," I 

 sung after him, then I laughed softly, for he dis- 

 tinctly lurched — once. 



THE HEATH-HEN 

 {Tympanuchus cupidd) 



Once a numerous species on most of the suita- 

 ble ground of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Con- 

 necticut, and Long Island, the heath-hen is now 

 confined to a region of oak and pine scrub of the 

 island known as Martha's Vineyard, and lying off 

 the Massachusetts coast. Only by its smaller size 

 can this bird readily be distinguished from T. 

 americmtus. The call, love-making, eggs, young, 

 and general habits are so similar that they need 

 not be dwelt upon. Scientists have discovered 

 slight differences in plumage, especially in the 

 sharper plumage of the neck-tufts, and the large, 

 terminal pale buff spots on the scapulars. To the 

 ordinary eye T. cupido would readily pass for an 

 undersized bird from the prairie. 



Owing to the pressure of eastern civilization, 

 the birds have retreated to their last stronghold, 

 a tract of about fifty square miles. This is a 

 region of almost impregnable cover, wherein, with 

 proper protection, the birds may thrive for an 

 indefinite period. As may readily be imagined, 



