CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MALE 281 



have had no known drumming log, although a brood later materialized in the territory. It 

 cannot be assumed, however, that the males of such pairs did not drum, as indistinctive objects 

 are often used for drumming and. if the performance occurred but a comparatively few times, 

 it might go entirely unnoticed. Nevertheless, among hand-raised birds, males which are not 

 separated from the opposite sex seldom drum, although they usually mate successfully. 



During the course of the Investigation on the Connecticut Hill area, 1.566 drumming logs 

 have been noted. In the aggregate, 1,173 male grouse have been present during the same per- 

 iod. Thus, an average of 1.33 recognized logs per male have been utilized during this period. 

 At the same time, in a number of instances, ratios much lower than this have been observed 

 for certain groups of males with no loss of breeding success among the females involved. For 

 instance, in one covert on the Connecticut Hill area in 1932. a total of 13 males established 

 but two drumming logs, yet nine of the 1 3 females were known to have nested. On another 

 portion of the same area, in 1934, but one log was found in spite of the presence of three 

 males, yet all five females nested. Similarly, in 1939, only one of six males established a log. 



Apparently then, mating may often be successfully completed without the aid of an estab- 

 lished drumming log. although as noted above, this does not mean that such males did not 

 drum. Conversely, other males have used as high as three and four, or even more, logs apiece. 

 In such cases, the relative exuberance of individual males is undoubtedly a factor. 



Of the various logs used, however, not all are resorted to regularly. In 193.'5, a separate 

 record was ke|)t on the Connecticut Hill area of the logs in regular use as against those used 

 only occasionally. It was found that 15,S males used a total of 214 logs, but only 142 regu- 

 larly or .92 per male. Thus, it appears that some males, each year, for one reason or another, 

 do 111)1 drum regularly on a definite log as is the habit nf the majority. 



Courtship 



Courtship among birds comprises those actions, performances and displays, employed 

 chieflv by the male (except in a few species such as the phalaropes). which serve to bring 

 about the pairing of the sexes and ultimate mating. In the ruffed grouse, it consists primarily 

 of strutting and feather display*. 



At the same time, largely similar if not identical performances, except for the head-twitch- 

 ing stage'^, are employed throughout the ^ear as one means of maintaining a bird's "social 

 rank"'' or merely to show off. A modified form of display has alsobeen observed in females 

 attempting to dominate weaker individuals. There is. therefore, no clear-cut objective means 

 by which to distinguish courtship activity although the feather display associated with it is 

 usually more complete. 



Nevertheless, at this season, such exhibitions, together with drumming which is regarded as 

 a corollary, serve to bring the sexes together and undoubtedly, to some extent, to convince the 

 female of the merit of the male. Thus they may be considered to fulfil the function of court- 

 ship even though essentially the same display may be used for other purposes as well. Specifi- 

 cally, they serve this purpose when witnessed by a female in the proper physiological condition 

 for mating. In other words, they supply the psychological elements needed to complement the 

 physiological. They reach their fullest intensity in the innnediate presence of a female in 

 "heat". 



* See discussinn of Strutting, p. 282. 



A See discussion n( Head -twitching, p. 283, 



t See Chapter II. p. 63. 



