404 
PINNATED GROUSE. 
of the exterior skin of the neck, which, when the bird is at 
rest, hangs in loose, pendulous, wrinkled folds, along the side 
of the neck, the supplemental wings, at the same time, as well 
as when the bird is flying, lying along the neck, in the manner 
represented in one of the distant figures on the plate. But 
when these bags are inflated with air, in breeding time, they 
are equal in size, and very much resemble in colour, a middle 
sized fully ripe orange. By means of this curious apparatus, 
which is very observable several hundred yards off, he is 
enabled to produce the extraordinary sound mentioned above, 
which, though it may easily be imitated, is yet difficult to 
describe by words. It consists of three notes, of the same 
tone, resembling those produced by the Night Hawks in their 
rapid descent ; each strongly accented, the last being twice 
as long as the others. When several are thus engaged, the 
ear is unable to distinguish the regularity of these triple notes, 
there being, at such times, one continued bumming, which is 
disagreeable and perplexing, from the impossibility of ascer- 
taining from what distance, or even quarter, it proceeds. 
While uttering this, the bird exhibits all the ostentatious 
gesticulations of a Turkey Cock ; erecting and fluttering his 
neck wings, wheeling and passing before the female, and close 
before his fellows, as in defiance. Now and then are heard 
some rapid cackling notes, not unlike that of a person tickled 
to excessive laughter ; and, in short, one can scarcely listen 
to them without feeling disposed to laugh from sympathy. 
These are uttered by the males while engaged in fight, on 
which occasion they leap up against each other, exactly in the 
manner of Turkeys, seemingly with more malice than effect. 
This bumming continues from a little before daybreak to 
eight or nine o’clock in the morning, when the parties separate 
to seek for food. 
Fresh ploughed fields, in the vicinity of their resorts, are 
sure to be visited by these birds every morning, and frequently 
also in the evening. On one of these I counted, at one time, 
seventeen males, most of whom were in the attitude repre- 
sented in the plate ; making such a continued sound, as, I am 
