ing — a ventriloquial humming call to 
the female three times repeated, and 
though uttered in so low a key, it may 
yet be heard three or four miles on a 
still morning. About the close of 
March on the plains of Missouri we 
heard this species of Grouse tooting or 
humming in all directions, so that at 
a distance the sound might be taken 
almost for the grunting of the Bison 
or the loud croak of the Bull-frog. 
While uttering his vehement call the 
male expands his neck pouches to such 
a magnitude as almost to conceal his 
head, and blowing, utters a low drum- 
ming bellow like the sound of k-tom- 
boo! k-tom-boo! once or twice repeated, 
after which is heard a sort of guttural 
squeaking crow or koak, koak, koak. In 
the intervals of feeding we sometimes 
hear the male also cackling, or, as it 
were, crowing like ko, ko, koop, koop! 
While engaged in fighting with each 
other, the males are heard to utter a 
rapid, petulant cackle, something in 
sound like excessive laughter. The 
tooting is heard from day-break till 
eight or nine o'clock in the morning. 
As they frequently assemble at these 
scratching places, as they are called, 
ambuscades of bushes are formed 
around them, and many are shot from 
these covers." 
The nest is placed on the ground 
in the thick prairie grass, and at the 
foot of bushes on the barren ground; a 
hollow is scratched in the soil, and 
sparingly lined with grass and feathers. 
The nest is so well concealed that it 
is not often discovered. The eggs are 
from ten to twelve, and of a plain 
brownish color. The female alone 
protects and attends the young, brood- 
ing them under her wings in 
the manner of the domestic fowl. 
The affectionate parent and her 
brood keep together throughout the 
season. 
20 
