PINNATED GROUS. 



113 



It is somewhat extraordinary that the European naturalists, 

 in their various accounts of our different species of Grous, should 

 have said little or nothing of the one now before us, which, in its 

 voiccj manners, and peculiarity of plumage, is the most singular, 

 and in its flesh the most excellent, of all those of its tribe that in- 

 habit the territory of the United States. It seems to have escaped 

 Catesby during his residence and different tours through this coun- 

 try, 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 

 Grous, the common Partridge of New England, or Pheasant of 

 Pennsylvania (Tetrao 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 flavour in the shrunk and decay- 

 ed skin from which the former took his figure, and the latter his 

 description; and to this circumstance must be attributed the bar- 

 renness and defects of both. 



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 per- 

 fect of several elegant specimens shot in the barrens of Kentucky. 

 He is represented in the act of strutting^ as it is called, while with 

 inflated throat he produces that extraordinary sound so familiar to 

 every one who resides in his vicinity, and which has been described 

 in the foregoing account. So very novel and characteristic did the 

 action of these birds appear to me at first sight, that, instead of 

 shooting them down, I sketched their attitude hastily on the spot, 

 while concealed among a brush-heap, with seven or eight of them 



VOL. III. 



* Catesb. Car. p. 101. App. 



Ff 



