T\VEXTy-,-<E\EXTH ANNUAL MEETING. 113 



HOW THE PHEASANT "DRUMS." 



By J. R. MEAD, Wichita. 



The ruffed grouse, Boiiasa iiniheUus (Linn.), commonly known as the 

 "pheasant", and in the New England states as "partridge", is one of the most 

 widely distributed non-migratory birds of the United States, formerly com- 

 mon in eastern Kansas. The writer has observed and hunted them from the 

 hills of Vermont to the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. 



They Avere among the first feathered inhabitants of the timber noticed 

 by the followers of Capt. John Smith, or those who landed from the "May- 

 flower." Yet to the present day its habits are to most people unknown, and 

 to ornithologists a disputed question how their peculiar drumming sound 

 is produced, once so commonly heard in the spring of the year in the timber 

 hills and river bottoms, yet so seldom obserA^ed, some claiming it was done 

 by the bird running along a log and striking it with his wings; others by his 

 beating a hollow log v/ith his wings; and still others, including our lamented 

 Colonel Goss, as expressed to the writer in course of conversation, by striking 

 their Avings together. 



None of these is correct. The drumming is produced by the bird stand- 

 ing erect, inflating his lungs and body with air and then beating his breast 

 with horizontal strokes of his wings. The drumming is done by the male 

 bird during the breeding season to attract his mates. No other bird has a 

 similar love call. It is peculiar, unique. 



My boyhood days were spent on my father's farm in Iowa, which included 

 in part the Mississippi river bluffs, covered with timber. I was an ardent 

 hunter and student of natural history from the great book of nature. Pheas- 

 ants were abundant, and early attracted my attention by their peculiar 

 muffled drum, so difficult for the unpracticed ear to locate. On several occa- 

 sions I have lain for hours concealed Avithin two rods of the log on which 

 stood a pheasant in plain view, drumming at intervals of about 10 minutes. 



The male bird in that locality invariably selected a fallen log, free from 

 limbs, and usually destitute of bark or sap from years of exposure, lying in a 

 grove of saplings clear of underbrush or low limbs, affording an unobstructed 

 view in every direction, but protected overhead from birds of prey. Each 

 male bird had his log, which he occupied during April and May, and hither 

 came the mother birds to meet their polygamous lord. 



The male drummed from daylight until about 10 o'clock, and again in the 

 evening— during cloudy days at intervals all day, and could be heard in the 

 silent woods for half a mile. There was no striking of the log with his wings, 

 no striking of his Avings against each other, no hollow log. When the impulse 

 came, which in the morning would be at intervals of about 10 minutes, the 

 proud bird would stand as erect as possible to his extreme height, almost lean- 

 ing backAvards, his breast prominent and nearly perpendicular, inflating his 

 lungs and body, the feathers on his body lying close and compact, he would 

 spread his wings as in the act of flying, and strike his expanded breast rap- 

 idly, the first three or four strokes at intervals of about two seconds, then 

 rapidly increasing until at the close, the drum beats were merged into a con- 

 tinuous flutter. The paroxysm over, the bird would resume his ordinary 



