138 
TIIE SHARP- TAILED CROUSE, 
breeds on tbe ground, near some brushwood, making 
a loose nest of grass, and lining it with feathers. 
Here the female lays from trine to thirteen eggs, 
which are white, spotted with blackish* The young 
are hatched about the middle of June ; they utter a 
piping noise, somewhat like chickens. Attempts 
have been repeatedly made to domesticate them, but 
have as constantly failed, all the young, though care- 
fully nursed by their step-mother, the common hen, 
dying one after another, probably for want of suit- 
able food. This species has several cries : the cock 
has a shrill crowing note, rather feeble; and both 
sexes, when disturbed, or whilst on the wing, repeat 
frequently the cry of cack , each . This well known 
sound conducts the hunter to their hiding place, and 
they are also delected by producing with their small, 
Intend, rigid tail-feathers, a curious noise, resembling 
that made by a winnowing fan. When in good or- 
der, one of these grouse will weigh upwards of two 
pounds, being very plump* Their flesh is of a light 
brown colour, and very compact, though, at the same 
time, exceedingly juicy and wel) tasted, being far 
superior in this respect to the common ruffed, and 
approaching in excellence the delicious pinnated 
grouse. 
The adult male is about sixteen inches In length. 
The general colour a mixture of white, different 
shades of dark and light chestnut, on a rather deep 
and glossy blackish ground. The tail is composed 
of eighteen feathers, the centre ones, according to 
