332 
TETRAO CUPIDO. 
which, he assures me, are the very same with those he 
had known in Pennsylvania. 
But what appears to me the most remarkable cir- 
cumstance relative to this bird, is, that not one of all 
those writers who have attempted its history, have 
taken the least notice of two extraordinary bag's of 
yellow skin which mark the neck of the male, and 
which constitute so striking a peculiarity. These 
appear to be formed by an expansion of the gullet, as 
well as 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. 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 ascertaining 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 
