PINNATED GROUSE. 
327 
To some select and central spot where there is very little 
underwood, they repair from the adjoining* district. 
From the exercises performed there, this is called a 
scratching place . The time of meeting* is the break 
of day. As soon as the light appears, the company 
assembles from every side, sometimes to the number of 
forty or fifty. When the dawn is past, the ceremony 
begins by a low tooting from one of the cocks. This 
is answered by another. They then come forth one 
by one from the bushes, and strut about with all the 
pride and ostentation they can display. Their necks 
are incurvated ; 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, and utter notes of defiance. These 
are the signals for battles. They engage with wonder- 
ful spirit and fierceness. During these contests, they 
leap a foot or two from the ground, and utter a cackling 
screaming, and discordant cry. 
“ 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 together. After the appear- 
ance of the sun, they disperse. 
“ These places of exhibition have been often dis- 
covered by the hunters ; and a fatal discovery it has 
been for the poor grouse. Their destroyers construct 
for themselves lurking holes made of pine branches, 
called hough houses , within a few yards of the parade. 
Hither they repair with their fowling-pieces, in the 
latter part of the night, and wait the appearance of the 
birds. Watching the moment when two are proudly 
eyeing each other, or engaged in battle, or when a 
