112 The Grouse Family 



among gallinaceous birds. The wing-clapping of 

 the domestic cock is too well known to require 

 comment. The gobbler, wild and tame, and the 

 peacock make a rustling with the wings. The 

 pheasant makes a peculiar whirring; pigeons, a 

 vigorous clapping. If any one will pass his hand 

 over a tame gobbler engaged in strutting, he will 

 at once notice that the bird feels as though he 

 were full of air. Parts of him are. In the re- 

 gion of the crop, and along the sides under the 

 wings, he feels like a big, feathery bladder. Startle 

 him, or slap him smartly, and he may let the air 

 out through his mouth with a rush. If he be suf- 

 ficiently tame to stand it, pat him smartly in rapid 

 succession with the open hands, and the sound 

 will be a muffled beating, not at all unlike the 

 drumming of the grouse. A well-directed boot 

 against a foot-ball produces a somewhat similar 

 thump, and the writer has drummed no bad imita- 

 tion of it upon a well-filled punching-bag. 



To stalk and closely approach a drumming 

 grouse is a comparatively easy task, provided the 

 stalker move cautiously until reasonably near, and 

 then stirs only while the drummer is in action. 

 A good glass, which, by the way, every intelligent 

 observer should carry, will reveal some interesting 

 facts. The bird may drum upon a log — the 

 favorite place — or a stump, a mossy stone, an 

 ant-hill, or even upon level ground, — notes care- 



