PINNATED GROUSE. 261 
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 
explosion, or the sight of their wounded and dead fellows, would rouse 
thern to oe 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 off 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 
are already perfectly acquainted with their classification and descrip- 
tion. In a short memoir written in 1+03. and printed in the eighth 
volume of the Medical Repository, I ventured an opinion as to the 
genus and species. Whether I] was correct is a technical matter. 
which 1 leave you to adjust. I am well aware that European accounts 
of our productions are often erroneous, and require revision and amend- 
ment. This you must perform. For me it remains to repeat my joy 
at the opportunity vour invitation has afforded me to contribute some- 
what to your elegant work, and at the same time to assure you of inv 
earnest hope that you may be favored with ample means to complete it. 
“Sacer L. Mircuiy.” 
Duly sensible of the honor of the foregoing communication, and 
grateful for the good wishes with which it is concluded, I shall now, 
in further elucidation of the subject, subjoin a few particulars properly 
belonging to my own department. 
It is somewhat extraordinary that the European naturalists, in their 
yarious accounts of our different species of Grouse, should have said 
little or nothing of the one now before us, which, in its voice, manners. 
and peculiarity of plumage, is the most singular, and, in its flesh, the 
tnost excellent of all those of its tribe that inhabit the territory of the 
United States. It seers to have escaped Catesby during his residence 
and different tours through this country, and it was not till more than 
twenty years after his return to England, viz., in 1743, that he first saw 
some of these birds, as he informs us, at Cheswick, the seat of the Earl 
of Wilmington. His lordship said they came from America: but from 
what particular part, could not tell.* Buffon has confounded it with 
the Ruffed Grouse, the Common Partridge of New England, or Pheasant 
of Pennsylvania, (T'trao umbellus ;) Edwards and Pennant have, how- 
ever, discovered that it is a different species, but have said little of its 
note, of its flesh, or peculiarities ; for, alas! there was neither voice, 
nor action, nor delicacy of flavor in the shrunk and decayed skin from 
which the former took his figure, and the latter his description; and 
. a circumstance must be attributed the barrenness and defects of 
ot 
That the curious may have an opportunity of examining to more 
advantage this singular bird, a figure of the male is here given, as 
large as life, drawn with great care from the most perfect of several 
elegant specimens shot in the Barrens of Kentucky. He is repre- 
sented in the act of strutting, as it is called, while with mflated throat 
* Catesey, Car. p. 101. App. 
