ASSOCIATION OF SEXES 129 



at the same time the tail is spread until like an 

 open fan and erected at right angles to the body ; 

 the neck is drawn down and back until the head 

 rests against the shoulder feathers, and the body 

 feathers are all thrown forward until they stand 

 about at right angles to their normal place. At 

 the same time the body is inflated with air, 

 which, with the drooping wings, spread tail, and 

 ruffled feathers, gives the bird the appearance 

 of a big ball. Having blown himself up to the 

 full capacity of his skin, the gobbler suddenly 

 releases the air, making a pufr exactly as if a 

 person, having inflated the cheeks to their full 

 capacity, suddenly opens the mouth. As the 

 puff is given, the bird steps quickly forward four 

 or five paces, dragging the ends of the stiff wing 

 feathers along the ground, making a rasping 

 sound; he throws forward his chest, and, gradu- 

 ally contracting the muscles, forces the air from 

 his body with a low, rumbling boom, the feathers 

 resuming their normal position as the air is ex- 

 pelled. Three distinct sounds are produced: 

 "Puff, cluck, b-o-o-r-r-r-m-i." At the termina- 

 tion of the gobbling season the primaries of the 



