244 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



distance of half a mile. This drumming is 

 produced in the following manner: The bird, 

 standmg on an old log, perhaps, lowers his 

 wings, spreads his tail, and erects it, contracts 

 his throat, raises the two tufts of feathers on 

 the neck, and inflates his whole body, some- 

 thing after the manner of the turkey cock, 

 strutting and Avheeling about, with great pomp 

 and parade. After a few manoeuvres of this 

 kind, he begins to strike Avith his wings, in 

 short and quick strokes, which become more 

 and more rapid. By this means the bird calls 

 his mate. 



The black cock belongs to the grouse tribe, 

 and in many respects resembles our partridge. 

 It is not found in this country, I believe, 

 though it is quite a celebrated bird in the 

 Highlands of Scotland. The male is entirely 

 black ; the female more nearly resembles the 

 partridge. The black cock is of about the size 

 of the domestic hen. 



Mr. Wilson says he once started a hen 

 partridge, when walking in the woods, who 

 seemed to have but a single young one. As 

 soon as the mother saw him coming, instead 

 of conceahng the little one among the leaves, 

 as is the practice usually with birds of this 

 species, she took the little fellow up in her bill, 



