Bird lore - Project Puffin

2 Bird - Lore
ing backward and forward with erected crests, drooping wings, and head and
tail almost meeting, all the time uttering a peculiar clucking or gobbhng call.
In the distance, these calls sound very much like the confused murmur of
voices of a far-away crowd of people. Spreadborough says the birds become so
absorbed that it is almost impossible to drive them away at these times—even
by shooting. I have seen as many as forty birds on a knoll at one time, but
twenty-iive or thirty is more usual.
The nest is on the ground, concealed among the grass, very often in little
patches of scrub; but no real nest is made. The eggs number from twelve to
PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
fifteen, and are brown with dark specks, measuring about 1.75 x 1.25 inches.
Frequently, after being sat upon for a time they become bleached, turning
to a dirty-white color. The hen sits very closely, and will allow herself to be
almost touched before rising. Great numbers of these birds are killed for
sport during the short open season.
When I first went to southern Manitoba, the square-tailed Pinnated
Grouse {Tympanuchus americanus) was the common game-bird of that portion
of the prairie, and it is gradually spreading westward. Atkinson comments
upon the fact that these two species do not agree well together. More recently