148 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
the autumn, with its possible cause, is given by this 
same correspondent of Forest and Stream, who says: 
“On one occasion, while out shooting in Clifton 
Park, I fired at a grouse, which fell to the ground and 
fluttered over it for some distance, but before I could 
reach him rose again and, flying high, disappeared 
over the tops of the trees in the woods. Pursuing, I 
looked the ground well over, but was unable to find 
him. It so happened that two or three days after this 
occurrence I was again on the same ground, and re- 
membering the wounded grouse, went in search of him. 
I had not gone far when I heard a grouse drum, and 
moving cautiously I finally got behind an old moss- 
covered stone wall that ran through the woods. I had 
often heard grouse drum, but I had never seen one per- 
form the act, and I was very desirous to do so. After 
a while he drummed again, and I moved along the 
fence, nearer, having by this time got his bearings. 
Upon looking over the wall I saw the bird standing 
on what I supposed to be a stone about five or six inches 
in height. After he had drummed he pecked at the 
supposed stone and then bobbed his head and tail up 
alternately, the latter being spread out. Then he 
jumped off the object and walked in a wide circle 
around it, after the manner of the turkey cock, with 
wings lowered. After an interval he got on the stone 
again and drummed and performed as before. About 
this time something alarmed the drummer and he dis- 
appeared into the covert. 
“Upon going to the spot where he had drummed I 
