RUFFED GROUSE—PARTRIDGE 147 
above the log. While there they struck repeated blows 
and then fell back to the log, where a short tussle took 
place, when they separated and moved back to a dis- 
tance of about six feet from one another. 
“After an interval they advanced toward each other 
again and repeated the same performance as before. 
The desperate battle went on by ‘rounds’ till several 
were fought. How long the fight had been going on 
before I came upon the scene I had no means of know- 
ing, but after they had come together several times in 
my presence, the bird that seemed the smaller moved 
backward, still presenting a defiant attitude, with his 
head lowered, till he came to the end of the log, when 
he jumped off and disappeared. 
“Upon this the victor raised himself and stretched 
up until he nearly stood on his toes, expanding his 
wings at the same time. It looked for a moment as if 
he would crow. Then settling himself back, he brought 
his wings down against his breast with a sound like 
that produced by forcibly striking a bass drum. Again 
he raised his wings and repeated the sound. Still 
continuing to raise and lower his wings more and more 
rapidly, the sound finally rolled away ‘in one continu- 
ous murmur and was still.’ The sound was indescrib- 
able. As soon as he had drummed he jumped off the 
log and disappeared. Wishing to know if the female, 
the probable cause of the conflict, was near by, I ad- 
vanced rapidly and started her, together with the vic- 
tor, and a short distance away the defeated bird.” 
An interesting account of a case of drumming in 
