96 THE PINNATED GROUSE. 



congregated during the winter in great flocks, separate into parties of from 

 twenty to fifty or more. Their love season commences, and a spot is 

 pitched upon to which they daily resort until incubation is established. 

 Inspired by love, the male birds, before the first glimpse of day lightens the 

 horizon, fly swiftly and singly from their grassy beds, to meet, to challenge, 

 and to fight the various rivals led by the same impulse to the arena. The 

 male is at this season attired in his full dress, and enacts his part in a 

 manner not surpassed in pomposity by any other bird. Imagine them 

 assembled, to the number of twenty, by day-break, see them all strutting in 

 the presence of each other, mark their consequential gestures, their looks of 

 disdain, and their angry pride, as they pass each other. Their tails are 

 spread out and inclined forwards, to meet the expanded feathers of their 

 neck, which now, like stiffened frills, lie supported by the globular orange- 

 coloured receptacles of air, from which their singular booming sounds 

 proceed. Their wings, like those of the Turkey Cock, are stiffened and 

 declined so as to rub and rustle on the ground, as the bird passes rapidly 

 along. Their bodies are depressed towards the ground, the fire of their eyes 

 evinces the pugnacious workings of the mind, their notes fill the air around, 

 and at the very first answer from some coy female, the heated blood of the 

 feathered warriors swells every vein, and presently the battle rages. Like 

 Game Cocks they strike, and rise in the air to meet their assailants with 

 greater advantage. Now many close in the encounter; feathers are seen 

 whirling in the agitated air, or falling around them tinged with blood. The 

 weaker begin to give way, and one after another seek refuge in the neigh- 

 bouring bushes. The remaining few, greatly exhausted, maintain their 

 ground, and withdraw slowly and proudly, as if each claimed the honours 

 of victory. The vanquished and the victors then search for the females, 

 who, believing each to have returned from the field in triumph, receive 

 them with joy. 



It not unfrequently happens that a male already mated is suddenly attacked 

 by some disappointed rival, who unexpectedly pounces upon him after a 

 flight of considerable length, having been attracted by the cacklings of the 

 happy couple. The female invariably squats next to and almost under the 

 breast of her lord, while he, always ready for action, throws himself on his 

 daring antagonist, and chases him away never to return. Such is the moment 

 which I have attempted to represent in the plate. 



In such places in the Western country as I have described, the "Prairie 

 Hen" is heard "booming" or "tooting" not only before break of day, but 

 frequentl} T at all hours from morning until sunset; but in districts where 

 these birds have become wild in consequence of the continual interference of 

 man, they are seldom heard after sunrise, sometimes their meetings are 



