CUriDONIA CUPIDO. B a i e d .
PISS.1TED GliOl'SE.
TETIUO CUPIDO. Linn., Syst, Nat., vol i., 17CG, p. 274,—Gdic!., Sy.st. Nat., vol i„ p. "51.—Latli., Ind. Ornith., vol. ii., 1790.—Wils,,
Am, Ornith., vol m„ 1811, p, 104, pi, xxvii.—Bon., Olis. Wil, 1825, No. 1»3.—Id., Mon. Tetrao, Am. Phil. Trans., vol. iii.,
1830, p, 392.—Nutt., Man., vol i., p. Gfi2.—And., Oraitli. Biog., vol, ii,, iaS4, p. 490, and 1839, p. 559, p i 18G.-Id,, B, of
Aincr., vol v., 1x42, p. 93, jil. 290.—Bon., Geog, and Comp. List, p. U , No. 285.—Id., Syn 1828 p 127
1)0N.\SA CUPIDO. Steph. Shaw's Gen. Zool, vol xl, p. 299.
CUPIDONIA AMERIC.INA. Reich,, Av. Syst. Nat., 1850, p.
TETRAO CUPIDO. Gray, Gcii. of II, vol, iii.
txix.—Bon,, Comp. Rend., xlv., 1857, p. 428.
CUPIDONU CUPIDO, Baird, U. S. P. R, R. Exp. atnl Surv., vol. ix., p. C28—Elliot. Proc. Acad. N. S. (I8G4).
LE COQ I))': BRUYliKE 1 FRAISE. Cnv.. Reg, Anim., vol. i., p. 449.
Fokmerly this vnliiable species was found iu gicat nnmbcrs from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River, but now it has almost
entirely disappeared from the eastern shore, and even in tlie West is becoming gradually scarcer every year.
Early in the spring, a t break of <lay, the prairies of the' YYest resound with the loud booming notes of the excited males, who,
meeting, sometimes in large numbers as thongli hy niipointment, sti-ut np and down, witli thoir feathere ruffled, gular sacks extended,
and the long tuft.s on the neek raised above t|icir heads, forming a kind of cre.ft; until, overcome with their pugimcioiis feelings, they
fight furionsly. These conflict.«, although carried on with much earnestness, seldom rc.sult in any injury to the combatants, the weak
birds giving nii the strife from sheer exhaustion, leaving the othcre to seek the hens, wiiicli liavc probably been looking on from the
neighboring buslies,
The looting of the Pinnated Grouse is made by cxhanstiag tlie air in tho gular sack, in like manner as the Cock-of-tlic-Plaiiis, and
consists of three notes, whicli in the clear atmosphere of flie prairies may lie heard for nearly iialf a mile. The males .ilonc have the
power of producing these sounds, the female.« being destitute of the ncces.«ary apparatus, Should tho air-sacks become punctured, the
bird is imalilc to tool any more, although he will go tlirongli all the motions rcipiisite to produce the sounds.
The Prairie Chicken makes its nest generally in April, aad jilaces it near some tuft of long grass on the open iir.iirie. I t is carc-
!c,«sly formed of leaves and grn.«s. and usually contains twelve eggs, nnd the young make their aiipcarancc in about three weeks after
incnbation eoinmciiccs. Only one brood is raised during the season, although, should the eggs be destroyed, the female will lay again.
This species carries itself very erect when upon the grouml but is not so graecful a-s the Ruffed Grouse, If startled, shonkl the object
o f its fear not be very near, it ciulcavors to escape by riiimiug, until, liaving reached some tuft, or clod of earth, it suddenly siiiinta close
to the ground, and rcmniiis until flushed.
Tlio Pinnated Gronse roost upon the gi-ound, witliin a short distance of each other; and this lial.it is frciuciitly taken advantage of
hy the trapper, «Uo, having previously marked the spot, goes to it after nightfall with a net, and often succeeds in caiituring the greater
part of the flock a t one haul Tliis practice, however, has tlic effect of causing the survivors to desert the place, and it is much to be
regretted that such wholesale dcsiriictioii of these birds cannot be prei’ciited; but it «oulil seem that it is likely to eoiitiimc until the
liust Pinnated Grouse has been taken.
In order to cleanse their featlicre from iiisect.s, or any snb.stnncc that may cling to them, they arc fond of dusting themselves in flic
roads or ploughed fields; ami they may often be .«con thus occupied, during line days.
Thoir flight is strong and well su.«taincil, sometimes rniiid. They propel themselves hy several heiit-s rciieated iy cpiick siiecessioii, nml
then sail onward for some distance «ill. the wings slightly bent downward, when the heats arc again renewed.
Ill August nnd Sci>tcinber these birds nro very gentle, and, in these montlis, very mnny arc shot, as they will lie well to a dug, and
are easily appi'oaehcd ; but in the fail, when the young are fully grown, they /Hirk : that is, many families join together, soniotimcs to
the nnmher of several li.iiidrcds, nnd are then very wild, rising out of gunshot, nnd continuing thoir flight often for more than a mile.
I f followed iniineiliatciy and again started, they will freipiently, on alighting, scatter and lie close, wlicii the sportsman is enabled lo
obtain many of them.
At this period of the year they arc fond of frecpieiiting the eoriifields, to pick np the grain which may be on the ground, returning