THE PINNATED GROUSE. 97 



noiseless, their battles are much less protracted, or of less frequent occur- 

 rence, and their beats or scratching grounds are more concealed. Many of 

 the young males have battles even in autumn, when the females generally 

 join, not to fight, but to conciliate them, in the manner of the Wild Turkeys. 



The Pinnated Grouse forms its nest, according to the latitude of the place, 

 between the beginning of April and the 25th of May. In Kentucky I have 

 found it finished and containing a few eggs at the period first mentioned, but 

 I think, taking the differences of seasons into consideration, the average 

 period may be about the first of May. The nest, although carelessly formed 

 of dr) r leaves and grasses, interwoven in a tolerably neat manner, is always 

 carefully placed amidst the tall grass of some large tuft, in the open ground 

 of the prairies, or at the foot of a small bush in the barren lands. The eggs 

 are from eight to twelve, seldom more, and are larger than those of the 

 Tetrao umbellus, although nearly of the same colour. The female sits upon 

 them eighteen or nineteen days, and the moment the young have fairly 

 disengaged themselves, leads them away from the nest, when the male ceases 

 to be seen with her. As soon as autumn is fairly in, the different families 

 associate together, and at the approach of winter I have seen packs composed 

 of many hundred individuals. 



When surprised, the young squat in the grass or weeds, so that it is almost 

 impossible to find any of them. Once, while crossing a part of the barrens 

 on my way homewards, my horse almost placed his foot on a covey that was 

 in the path. I observed them, and instantly leaped to the ground; but 

 notwithstanding all my endeavours, the cunning mother saved them by a 

 single cluck. The little fellows rose on the wing for only a few yards, 

 spread themselves all round, and kept themselves so close and quiet, that, 

 although I spent much time in search for them, I could not discover one. I 

 was much amused, however, by the arts the mother employed to induce me 

 to leave the spot where they lay concealed, when perhaps I was actually 

 treading on some of them. 



This species never raises more than one brood in the season, unless the 

 eggs have been destroyed, in which case the female immediately calls for her 

 mate, and produces a second set of eggs, generally much smaller in number 

 than the first. About the 1st of August, the young are as large as our little 

 American Partridge, and are then most excellent eating. They do not 

 acquire much strength of wing until the middle of October, and after that 

 period they become daily more difficult to be approached. Their enemies 

 are at this season very numerous, but the principal are the Polecat, the 

 Racoon, the Weasel, the Wild Cat, and various Hawks. 



The Pinnated Grouse is easily tamed, and easily kept. It also breeds in 

 confinement, and I have often felt surprised that it has not been fairly domes- 



