THE PINNATED GROUSE. 
131 
sinnkr to the colours and markingis of the European 
grey hen. The remarkable parts of its adornment 
are tlie neck tufts, or, as Wilson terms them* supple- 
menial trings, compnse(i of about eis:Iiteeti narrow 
feathers, the Sar^est of which are 5 inches long, and 
black. Under eaeb of these are two loose, pendu- 
lous, and wrinkled skins, extending along the aide of 
the nf«k for two-thirds of its length, each of which, 
when inflated with air, resembles in hulk^ colour, and 
surface, a middie-sized orange. The female ift con- 
airleratily less, and wants the neck tufts and naked 
skin.* 
It is during tlie season of spring that the skins on 
the sides of the neck become roost conspicuous- 
An interesting account of their manners at this season, 
ig gfven in a letter from Mr .Mitchell, New York, to 
Wilson. 
*' The season for pairing is in March, and the 
breeding time is continued through April and 
May. Then the male grouse distingnitiliea him- 
self hy a peculiar sound. When he utteni it^ the 
pfllts about the throat are sensibly inflated and 
swelled. It may be heard on a still morning for 
tliree or four miles ; some Bay tliey have perceived it 
as far as five or sis. This noise is a sort of ventri- 
lo<juism. h does not strike the ear of a bystander 
with much force, but impresses him with the idea, 
thouirh produced wiihiu a few rods of him, of a voice 
a mile or two distant* This note is highly charac- 
• Alexander Wilson. 
