PINNATED GROUSE. 
405 
persuaded, might have been heard for more than a mile off. 
The people of the Barrens informed me, that, when the 
weather becomes severe, with snow, they approach the barn 
and farm-house, are sometimes seen sitting on the fences in 
dozens, mix with the poultry, and glean up the scattered 
grains of Indian corn, seeming almost half domesticated. At 
such times, great numbers are taken in traps. No pains, 
however, or regular plan, has ever been persisted in, as far as 
I was informed, to domesticate these delicious birds. A Mr 
Reed, who lives between the Pilot Knobs and Bairdstown, 
told me, that, a few years ago, one of his sons found a 
Grouse’s nest with fifteen eggs, which he brought home, and 
immediately placed below a hen then sitting, taking away her 
own. The nest of the Grouse was on the ground, under a 
tussock of long grass, formed with very little art, and few 
materials ; the eggs were brownish white, and about the size of 
a pullet’s. In three or four days, the whole were hatched. 
Instead of following the hen, they compelled her to run after 
them, distracting her with the extent and diversity of their 
wanderings ; and it was a day or two before they seemed to 
understand her language, or consent to be guided by her. 
They were let out to the fields, where they paid little 
regard to their nurse; and, in a few days, only three of 
them remained. These became extremely tame and familiar ; 
were most expert flycatchers ; but, soon after, they also 
disappeared. 
The Pinnated Grouse is nineteen inches long, twenty-seven 
inches in extent, and, when in good order, weighs about three 
pounds and a half; the neck is furnished with supplemental 
wings, each composed of eighteen feathers, five of which are 
black, and about three inches long; the rest shorter, also 
black, streaked laterally with brown, and of unequal lengths ; 
the head is slightly crested; over the eye is an elegant 
semicircular comb of rich orange, which the bird has the 
power of raising or relaxing ; under the neck wings are two 
loose, pendulous, and wrinkled skins, extending along the 
side of the neck for two-thirds of its length ; each of which, 
