FAMILY Veirvauniaa&. 
bird drumming ought to be a sufficient demonstration of 
the fact that the air has everything to do with the case 
and the body of the bird little or nothing atall. It is the 
air that booms under the rapid lashing of the wings, 
just as it is the air which sings in a baritone voice 
through the primaries of the Nighthawk’s wings as he 
drops like a shot through the sky. 
The tone of the Partridge’s kettledrum may be safely 
recorded at A flat as well as at A, or at B flat where 
Mr. Cheney places it. It is rather difficult to locate the 
The authors two records, JS PCheneys record, 
tone with exactness, as it lacks life and character, but it 
may be distinctly heard at a distance of a quarter of a 
mile ormore. The first tones are staccato, and widely 
separated, but the last are run together in a rapid roll, 
thus : 
Sys Sa eee te 
Boom boom boom boom boo boo bur-r-nr-r-r-r-7r ep 7-7 7nd 
Upon seeing the bird go through this remarkable per- 
formance one is struck with amazement, for at the end 
he subsides into utter quiescence instead of flying all to 
pieces! Why the stump or the rock on which he is perched 
is not at once covered with every feather from his body 
it is difficult to understand. But no, he still holds to- 
gether, and probably if one waits a few more minutes he 
will be at it again. Watch him closely, and presently 
the head begins to bob up exactly like that of a rooster 
before he begins to crow, now the wings are spread and 
jerk back and forward with a hollow thud at each 
movement, and the next moment the whole bird is a 
blurr of feathers and the air is filled with a rushing 
whirr which is swiftly graduated to a finish as the body 
of the creature becomes distinct and quiet once more, 
8 
