THE PIXNATED GROUSE. 
133 
sometimes to the number of forty or fifty. When 
the (fawn 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 bushes, and strut about wilb ail the pride and 
ostentation they can display. Their necks are in- 
cur rated ; the feathers on them are erected into a 
sort of ruff; the plumes of their tails are expanded 
like fans ; they strut about in a style resembling, as 
nearly as small may be illustrated by great, the pomp 
of the Turkey Cock. They seem to vie with each 
other in stateliness ; and, as they pass each other, 
frequently cast looks of insult, a:id utter notes of de- 
fiance. These are the signals for battles. They 
engage with wonderful spirit ami fierceness. During 
these contests they leap a foot or two from the 
ground, and utter a cackling, screaming, and dis- 
cordant cry. 
u They have been found in these places of resort 
even earlier than the appearance of light in the East, 
This fact has led 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 opinion is confirmed 
by the discovery of little rings of dung, apparently 
deposited by a flock which had passed the night to- 
gether. After the appearance of the sun they dis- 
perse. 
* l These places of exhibition have been often dis- 
covered by the hunters ; and a fatal discovery it has 
