PINNATED GROUSE. 275 



cock. They seem to vie with each other in stateliness ; and as they 

 pass each other frequently cast looks of insult, and utter notes of de- 

 fiance. These are the signals for battles. They engage with wonderful 

 spirit and fierceness. During these contests, they leap a foot or two 

 from the ground, and utter a cackling, screaming and discordant cry. 



" They have been found in these places of resort even earlier than 

 the appearance of light in the east. This fact has led to the belief 

 that a part of them assemble over night. The rest join them in the 

 morning. This leads to the further belief that they roost on the ground. 

 And the opinion is confirmed by the discovery of little rings of dung, 

 apparently deposited by a flock which had passed the night together. 

 After the appearance of the sun they disperse. 



" These places of exhibition have been often discovered by the 

 hunters ; and a fatal discovery it has been for the poor Grouse. Their 

 destroyers construct for themselves lurking holes made of pine branches, 

 called hough houses, within a few yards of the parade. Hither they 

 repair with their fowling-pieces in the latter part of the night, and wait 

 the appearance of the birds. Watching the moment when two are 

 proudly eyeing each other, or engaged in battle ; or when a greater 

 number can be seen in a range, they pour on them a destructive charge 

 of shot. This annoyance has been given in so many places, and to 

 such extent, that the Grouse, after having been repeatedly disturbed, 

 are afraid to assemble. On approaching the spot to which their instinct 

 prompts them, they perch on the neighboring trees, instead of alighting 

 at the scratching place. And it remains to be observed, how far the 

 restless and tormenting spirit of the marksmen, may alter the native 

 habits of the Grouse, and oblige them to betake themselves to new 

 ways of life. 



" They commonly keep together in coveys, or packs, as the phrase 

 is, until the pairing season. A full pack consists of course of ten or 

 a dozen. Two packs have been known to associate. I lately heard of 

 one whose number amounted to twenty-two. They are so unapt to be 

 startled, that a hunter, assisted by a dog, has been able to shoot almost 

 a whole pack, without making any of them take wing. In like manner 

 the men lying in concealment near the scratching places, have been 

 known to discharge several guns before either the report of the explo- 

 sion, or the sight of their wounded and dead fellows, would rouse them 

 to flight. It has further been remarked, that when a company of 

 sportsmen have surrounded a pack of Grouse, the birds seldom or never 

 rise upon their pinions while they are encircled ; but each runs along 

 until it passes the person that is nearest, and then flutters ofi" with the 

 utmost expedition. 



" As you have made no inquiry of me concerning the ornithological 

 character of these birds, I have not mentioned it, presuming that you 



