Marrua’s VINEYARD, May 1, 1906. 
At 6 p.m, we arrived at the point where we hoped to find traces of 
the heath hen. In a cleared field about thirty rods from the road we 
distinctly saw two large birds. On our nearer approach they squatted 
close, and their protective coloration was so effective that, although 
we knew almost exactly the precise location of the birds, we could not 
distinguish them. We crawled behind the nearest cover, and remained 
motionless for perhaps ten minutes. At length the long shadows from 
the descending sun enabled us to distinguish the birds, as they crouched 
with head close to the ground, among the very scanty vegetation. After 
another ‘interval of motionless activity on our part, one bird quickly 
arose and began feeding, apparently without suspicion; soon two more 
birds arose as if by magic from the ground. Then began a most in- 
teresting series of antics. These birds were joined by five others, com- 
ing in singly and on foot from the serub in various directions. The 
birds came frequently within forty paces of our hiding place, and in 
one instance alighted on a small oak tree twenty-three paces from our 
camera. While not near enough for successful photographing, we were 
well situated for using our field glasses. The birds were all actively 
feeding in the open field, apparently on grasshoppers and other insects, 
but nipping red clover leaves very freely. They moved leisurely about. 
Frequently two birds, sometimes as much as one hundred to one hun- 
dred and fifty yards apart, ran directly toward each other, dancing 
and blowing on the way, with the so-called “ neck wings” pointed up- 
ward in a V form. On facing each other both squatted, and remained 
motionless from one to five minutes. We could see none of the nodding 
and pecking motions of the head so commonly indulged in by domestic 
fowls when fighting; rarely was there sparring with the bill or striking 
with the feet or wings. In twelve or fifteen encounters, only three or 
four times did they strike thus, and only once did we see “ feathers fly.” 
Most of the energy seems to be spent in posturing and blowing. Gen- 
erally, one of the combatants backed slowly away, suddenly stopping 
if the opponent advanced too rapidly. In all these fighting tactics the 
similarity of habits with those of the domestic fowl were very marked. 
From all directions came the peculiar “ toot,” like distant tug-boats in 
a fog, all having whistles of the same pitch. This call may be well 
imitated by blowing gently into the neck of a two-drachm homeopathic 
vial. Hach call extends over a period of two seconds, and is repeated 
at frequent intervals. It is prefaced by a run of about one yard, with 
very rapid, mincing steps. The strides, however, are so short that the 
bird does not advance rapidly. The tail is spread and the wings dropped 
after the manner of the strutting turkey cock. When the tail is spread, 
the white under-tail coverts are conspicuous, and remind one forcibly 
of the “white flag” of the deer and antelope or of our gray rabbit. 
The head is then depressed and the neck outstretched forward, until 
it is about parallel with the surface of the ground; the neck tufts are 
