204 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
And stooping we gather a blossom dead ; 
Boom! and our heart has a thunderous beat 
As the gray apparition flits overhead. 
— ALonzo TEALL WORDEN. 
“T will read you his story, written by a Wise Man of 
Massachusetts who knows the game-birds from all sides.” 
“The Ruffed Grouse, the ‘ King of American game-birds,’ 
was abundant in all our woods, and was often seen in 
fields and orchards, until its numbers were decimated by 
the gunner and the survivors driven to the cover of the 
pines. The characteristic startling roar of its wings, 
with which it starts away when flushed from the ground, 
and its habit of drumming on a log, have been often 
described. The speed with which the wings are beaten 
in drumming makes it impossible for the human eye to 
follow them and make sure whether they strike anything 
ornot. Naturalists, after long discussion, had come to be- 
lieve that the so-called ‘drumming,’ of the Ruffed Grouse 
was caused by the bird beating the air with its wings, 
as described by Mr. William Brewster; but now comes 
Dr. C. F. Hodge and reopens the controversy by exhibit- 
ing a series of photographs, which seem to show that the 
bird, in drumming, strikes the contour feathers of the body. 
Strange as it may seem, there are many people who often 
take outings in the country, yet have never heard the 
drumming of this bird. This tattoo is most common in 
late winter and early spring, but may be heard occasion- 
ally in summer and not uncommonly in fall. While 
sounded oftenest during the day, it may fall on the ear at 
any hour of the night. In making it, the bird usually 
