RUFFED GROUSE. 267 



in a retired and sheltered situation, lowers his wings, erects his expanded 

 tail, contracts his throat, elevates the two tufts of feathers on the neck, 

 and inflates his whole body, something in the manner of the turkey cock, 

 strutting and wheeling about with great stateliness. After a few 

 manoeuvres of this kind, he begins to strike with his stiflened wings in 

 short and quick strokes, which become more and more rapid until they 

 run into each other as has been already described. This is most common 

 in the morning and evening, though I have heard them drumming at all 

 hours of the day. By means of this, the gunner is led to the place of 

 his retreat ; though to those unacquainted with the sound, there is great 

 deception in the supposed distance, it generally appearing to be much 

 nearer than it really is. 



The Pheasant begins to pair in April, and builds its nest early in 

 May. This is placed on the ground at the root of a bush, old log, or 

 other sheltered and solitary situation, well surrounded with withered 

 leaves. Unlike that of the Quail, it is open above, and is usually com- 

 posed of dry leaves and grass. The eggs are from nine to fifteen in 

 number, of a brownish white, without any spots, and nearly as large as 

 those of a pullet. The young leave the nest as soon as hatched, and 

 are directed by the cluck of the mother, very much in the manner of the 

 common hen. On being surprised, she exhibits all the distress and 

 affectionate manoeuvres of the Quail, and of most other birds, to lead 

 you away from the spot. I once started a hen Pheasant, with a single 

 young one, seemingly only a few days old ; there might have been more, 

 but I observed only this one. The mother fluttered before me for a mo- 

 ment, but suddenly darting towards the young one, seized it in her bill, 

 and flew off along the surface thi-ough the woods, with great steadiness 

 and rapidity, till she was beyond my sight, leaving me in great sur- 

 prise at the incident. I made a very close and active search around the 

 spot for the rest, but without success. Here was a striking instance 

 of something more than what is termed blind instinct, in this remark- 

 able deviation from her usual manoeuvres, when she has a numerous brood. 

 It would have been impossible for me to injure this affectionate mother, 

 who had exhibited such an example of presence of mind, reason and 

 sound judgment, as must have convinced the most bigoted advocates of 

 mere instinct. To carry off a whole brood in this manner, at once, 

 would ha\^ been impossible, and to attempt to save one at the expense 

 of the rest would be unnatural. She therefore usually takes the only 

 possible mode of saving them in that case, by decoying the person in 

 pursuit of herself, by such a natural imitation of lameness as to impose 

 on most people. But here, in the case of a single solitary young one, 

 she instantly altered her plan, and adopted the most simple and effectual 

 means for its preservation. 



The Pheasant generally springs within a few yards, with a loud whir- 



