THE PINNATED GROUSE. 
133 
somettmea to the number of forty or fifty. When 
l!ie dawn is past, the ceremony begins by a low toot- 
ing from one of the cocks. This is answered by 
another. They then come forth one by one from 
the bufthes, and strut about witfv aJl tlie pride and 
ostentation they can diKplay. Tlieir necks are in- 
curvated ; the featlien on them are erected into a 
sort of ruff ; the plumes of their tailn are expanded 
hke fanfi; they »tirut about in a style resiemhlin^, as 
nearly as sniall may be illustrated by great, the pomp 
of the Turkey Cock. They seem to vie with each 
other in stateljness ; and, as they pass each other, 
frequently caj*t looks of insult, and utter notes of de- 
fiance. Them are the signals for battles. They 
engage witfi wonderful spirit and fierceness. During 
these contests tliey leap a foot or two from the 
ground, and utter a cackhng", screaining, and dis- 
cordant cry. 
** They have Ijeen found in these places of reaort 
even earlier liian the appearance of light in the Eaat. 
This fact has hrd to the belief that a part of them 
assemble over night. The rest join them in the 
morning. This leads to the farther belief that they 
roost on the ground. And the opiiuon is confirmed 
by the discovery of littli* rin^>i of dung, apparently 
deposited by a 6otk which had passed the night to- 
gether. After the appearance of the sun they dis- 
perse. 
" These places of exhibition have been often dis- 
cover«il by the hunters ; and a fatal discovery it has 
