APPENDIX, 197 



Ruffed Grouse. — Contin. 



rods. I have searched for the bird when I have heard the drmnming, 

 and while supposing him to be at a considerable distance, have flushed him 

 within the distance of fifty feet, and vice versa." — Samuels, E. A. : Our 

 Northern and Eastern Birds, pp. 386-387. 



" In the spring and early summer may be heard that remarkable sound 

 called ' drumming.' Whoever is fortunate enough to approach closely an 

 old cock in the act of drumming, will be well rewarded for the trouble that 

 he may have taken in so doing. Generally on a log or broad stump or in a 

 cleared spot, the bird will be seen, puffed like a turkey to twice his 

 natural size, with his crest erect, his ruffs extended, and his tail spread, 

 strutting about, lowering or twisting his neck and head, and then suddenly 

 beating violently with his wings his inflated body. This causes a sound 

 which on a favorable day may be heard for a mile or two, and which is 

 often repeated at intervals for some time. One can appreciate the 

 muscular vitality of the wings and the rapidity of their motion, by 

 endeavoring to imitate the sound on a cushion (or other surface) with the 

 hand. It will be found impossible to equal or even to approach the rapidity 

 of the repeated strokes." — Mlnot, H. D.: Land-birds and Game-birds of 

 N. E.,p. 390. 



" Most writers follow Audubon and Nuttall in saying that the drumming 

 is produced by striking the wings against the body ; but from the accounts 

 given me by reliable sportsmen, there is no doubt that the above high 

 authorities are in error. Wilson does not say that the wings are struck 

 against the body, though it is somewhat uncertain whether he meant to 

 say so or not, since the rest of his description is substantially that of 

 Audubon and Nuttall. 



" My esteemed friend, Mr. H. W. Henshaw, of Cambridge, Mass., has 

 furnished me with what I believe to be a reliable account of the manner 

 in which the drumming is produced. His authorities are his father and 

 Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, — the latter an accomplished sports- 

 man, whose statements I can vouch for myself. Mr. Henshaw describes 

 the drumming process as follows : — 



" ' The bird sits crosswise upon the log, resting upon the back of the tarsi 

 (not standing erect as described by some writers), its tail projecting nearly 

 horizontally behind (not erected) and spread ; the head is drawn back, the 

 feathers pressed close to the body. The wings are then raised and stiff- 

 ened,and drumming commences by a slow, hard stroke with both wings, 

 downward and forward ; but they are stopped before they touch the body. 

 The rapidity of this motion is increased after the first few beats, when the 

 wings move so fast that only a semi-circular haze over the bird is visible ; 



