OUPIDONIA CUPIDO. B a i r d .
PINNATED eROUSE.
TETRAO CUPIDO. Linn., Syst. Nat., vol. i., 176G, p. 274.—Gmel, Syst. Nat., vol. i., p. 751.—Latli,, Iiul, Ornith., vol. ii., 1790.—Wils.,
Am, Oi-nitli., vol. iii., 1811, p. 104, pi. xxvii,—Bon., Ohs. WiL, 1825, No. 183,—Id., Mon. Tctrao, Am. Pliil, Trans., vol. iii.,
1830, p. 392,—Nutt,, Man., vol. i., p. G02.—And., Ornitli. Biog., vol. ii., 1834, p. 490, and 1839, p. 559, pi. 186.—Id., B. of
Amer., vol. v., 1842, p. 93, pi. 296.—Bon., Geog. and Comp. List, p. 44, No. 285.—Id., Syn., 1828, p. 127.
BONASA CUPIDO. Steph. Sliaiv’s Geu. Zool., vol. x l, p. 299.
CUPIDONIA AMERICANA, Eeicli., Av. Syst. Nat., 1850, p. .xxix,—Bon., Comp. Rond., .xlv., 1837, p. 428,
TETKAO CUPIDO. Gray, Gen. of B., vol. iii.
CUPIDONIA CUPIDO. Baird, U. S. P. K. R. Exp. and Surv., vol. ix., p. 628.—Elliot, Proc. Acad. N. S, (1864),
LE COQ DE BRUYÈRH À FRAISE, Cuv., Reg, Anim., vol. i„ p. 449.
Foumekly tliis valuable spccios was found in great numbers from the Atlantic coast to tlie Mississippi River, but now it has almost
entirely disappeared from the eastern shove, and even in the lYest is becoming gradually scaveor every year.
Early in the spring, a t bi'cak of day, the priihies of the' lYcst resound with the loud booming notes of the excited males, wlio,
meeting, sometimes iu large nnnibers as tlioiigli by appointment, strut up and down, witli tlieir feathers riiftied, giilar sacks extended,
and tho long tufts on the nock raised above their heads, forming a kind of crest; until, overcome with tlicir pugnacious feelings, they
flglit furiously. These oonllicts, although can-led on with much earnestness, seldom result in any injury to the combatants, the weak
birds giving up the strife from sheer exhaustion, leaving the others to seek the hens, which have probably been looking on from the
neighboring bushes.
The tooling of the Pinnated Gronse is made by exhausting the air in the gnlar sack, in like inaniior as the Cock-of-thc-Plains, and
consists of throe notes, wliich in the clear atmosphere of the piairics may bo hoard for nearly half a mile. 'I'lic males alone have the
power of producing these sounds, the females being destitute of the necessary aiipavatus. Should the air-sacks become punctured, the
bird is unable to loot any more, although lie will go through all the motions requisite to produce tho sounds.
The Prairie Chicken makes it« nest generally iu April, and places it near some tuft of long grass on the open pi-aivio. I t is carelessly
formed of leaves aiul grass, and usually contains twelve eggs, and the young make their a|ipoarancc iu about three weeks after
hicnbation commences. Oidy one bi-ood is raised during the sca.=oii, althongh, should the eggs be destroyed, the female will lay again.
This species carries itself very erect when upo)i the ground, but is not so graceful as the Rnffcd Grouse. I f startled, should the object
of its fear not be very near, it endeavors to escape by nmning, until, having vcacliod some tuft, or clod of earth, it suddenly sqiiat.s close
to the ground, ami rcinnins until Hushed.
The I’iiiiiatcd Gi-ousc roost upon tlic ground, within ii short distance of each other; and this liabit is frequently taken advantage of
by the trapper, who, having previously niarkcil the spot, goes to it after nightfall witli a net, and often succeeds in capturing tlic greater
part of the Hock a t one haul. Tliis practice, however, has tlic effect of causing tlio survivors to desci-t the place,
neh to be
regretted tluit such wliolcsale destruction of those birds cannot be ¡iroventcd; but it wonld seem tliat it is likely
continue until the
Inst Pinnated Grouse has been taken,
III order to demise their foatliei-s from insects, or any substance that may cling to them, they arc fond of dusting themselves in the
roads ov ploughed Helds; and they may often be seen thus occupied, (luring fine days.
Their flight is strong and well sustained, sometimes rapid. They |)ropcl themselves by several beats repeated ¡a quick sncoession, and
then sail onward for some distance with the wings slightly bout downward, ivhcn tho beats arc again renewed.
Ill August Jiml September these birds are i-ory gontic, and, in these montlis, very many arc shot, as they will Ho w-cll to a dog, and
arc easily approached; but in the fall, when the young arc fully grown, they pa c k; th a t is, many families join together, sometimes to
the number of several iiundvcds, and are then very wild, rising out of gunshot, and contiiining tlieir flight often for more than a mile.
IC followed immediately and again started, they will frcqncutly, on alighting, scatter and lie close, when the sportsman is enabled to
obtain many of tlicin,
At this period of tho year they are fond of frequenting tlie cornfields, to pick up the grain which may be on the ground, returning