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Range (Prairies of Mississippi Valley)

Prairies of Mississippi Valley, south to Louisiana, west to northern Indian Territory, middle Kansas, Nebraska, and eastern North and South Dakota; east to Kentucky, Indiana, northwestern Ohio, southwestern Michigan, and southwestern Ontario; north to southern Manitoba (Bendire). Nest, on the ground. Eggs, eleven to fourteen, buffy olive, sometimes finely speckled with brownish, 1.70 × 1.25. "This familiar game bird inhabits our fertile prairies, seldom frequenting the timbered lands except during sleety storms or when the ground is covered with snow. Its flesh is dark, and it is not very is not very highly esteemed as a table bird. "During the early breeding season they feed largely upon grasshoppers, crickets, and other forms of insect life, but afterward chiefly upon our cultivated grains, gleaned from the stubble in autumn and autumn and the cornfields in winter; they are also fond of tender buds, berries, and berries, and fruits. They run about much like our domestic fowls, but with a more stately carriage. When flushed they rise from the ground with a less a less whirring sound than the Ruffed Grouse or Bob-white, and their flight is not as swift, but more protracted and with less apparent effort, flapeffort, flap- In ping and sailing along, often to the distance of a mile or more. the fall the birds collect together and remain in flocks until the warmth the warmth of spring quickens their blood and awakes the passions of love; then, as with a view to fairness and the survival of the fittest, they select a select a smooth open courtship ground (usually called a 'scratching ground'), where the males assemble at the early dawn to vie with each other in each other in courage and pompous display, uttering at the same time their love call, a loud booming noise; as soon as this is heard by the hen birds by the hen birds desirous of mating they quietly put in an appearance, squat upon the upon the GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. ground, apparently indifferent observers, until claimed by victorious rivals, which they gladly accept, and receive their caresses (Goss). receive their caresses" (Goss). 306. Tympanuchus cupido (Linn.). HEATH HEN.-Similar to the preceding, but the scapulars broadly tipped with buffy; the neck tufts of less with buffy; the neck tufts of less than ten feathers; these feathers pointed, not rounded, at the ends. pointed, not rounded, at the ends.