154 
THE PINNATED GROUSE. 
tei'istic. Though very peculiar, it is termed tooting, 
from its resemblance to the blowing of a conch or 
iiorn from a remote quarter. The female makes her 
nest oil the ground, in recesses very rarely discover- 
ed by men. She usually lays from ten to twelve 
eggs. Their colour is of a brownish, much resem- 
bling those of a guinea hen. When hatched, the 
brood is protected by her alone. Surrounded by 
her young, the mother bird exceedingly resembles a 
domestic hen and chickens. She frequently leads 
them to feed in the roads crossing the woods, on 
the remains of maize and oats contained in the dung 
dropped by the travelling horses. In that employ- 
ment they are often surprised by the passengers. 
On such occasions the dam utters a cry of alarm. 
The little ones immediately scamper to the brush ; 
and while they are skulking into places of safety, 
their anxious parent beguiles the spectator by droop- 
ing and fluttering her wings, limping along the path, 
rolling over in the dirt, and other pretences of ina- 
bility to walk or fly. 
“ During the period of mating, and while the 
females are occupied in incubation, the males have 
a practice of assembling, principally by themselves. 
To some select and central spot, where there is 
veiy little underwood, they repair from the ad- 
joining district. From the exercises performed 
there, this is called a scratching jilace- The time of 
meeting is the break of day. As soon as the light 
appears, the company assembles from every side. 
