404 



PINNATED GROUSE. 



of the exterior skin of the neck, which, when the bird is at 

 rest, hangs in loose, pendulous, wrinkled folds, along the side 

 of the neck, the supplemental wings, at the same time, as well 

 as when the bird is flying, lying along the neck, in the manner 

 represented in one of the distant figures on the plate. But 

 when these bags are inflated with air, in breeding time, they 

 are equal in size, and very much resemble in colour, a middle 

 sized fully ripe orange. By means of this curious apparatus, 

 which is very observable several hundred yards off, he is enabled 

 to produce the extraordinary sound mentioned above, which, 

 though it may easily be imitated, is yet difficult to describe by 

 words. It consists of three notes, of the same tone, resembling 

 those produced by the night hawks in their rapid descent ; 

 each strongly accented, the last being twice as long as the 

 others. When several are thus engaged, the ear is unable to 

 distinguish the regularity of these triple notes, there being, 

 at such times, one continued bumming, which is disagreeable 

 and perplexing, from the impossibility of ascertaining from 

 what distance or even quarter it proceeds. While uttering 

 this, the bird exhibits all the ostentatious gesticulations of a 

 turkey cock ; erecting and fluttering his neck wings, wheeling 

 and passing before the female, and close before his fellows, as 

 in defiance. Now and then are heard some rapid crackling 

 notes, not unlike that of a person tickled to excessive laughter ; 

 and, in short, one can scarcely listen to them without feeling 

 disposed to laugh from sympathy. These are uttered by the 

 males while engaged in fight, on which occasion they leap up 

 against each other, exactly in the manner of turkeys, seemingly 

 with more malice than effect. This bumming continues from 

 a little before daybreak to eight or nine o'clock in the morning, 

 when the parties separate to seek for food. 



Fresh ploughed fields, in the vicinity of their resorts, are 

 sure to be visited by these birds every morning, and frequently 

 also in the evening. On one of these I counted, at one time, 

 seventeen males, most of whom were in the attitude repre- 

 sented in the plate ; making such a continued sound, as, I am 

 persuaded, might have been heard for more than a mile off. 



