314 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



strokes against the side of his body, which increase in rap- 

 idity until a nearly continuous noise is thereby produced. 

 These sounds are more frequent during the early morning, 

 but may be heard at any time during the course of the day. 

 Their rolling, reverberating character recalls the noise of 

 distant thunder, and they often seem to come from a great 

 distance, even when the author is close-by. An experienced 

 sportsman is capable of imitating these sounds with con- 

 siderable nicety, and the deluded bird is frequently drawn 

 to his doom, fancying he is going to meet a jealous antag- 

 onist. The courting-season continues during the greater part 

 of a week. A single male is not unfrequently surrounded 

 by several females, whilst showing off his good qualities 

 and graces. It is often a somewhat difficult task to make a 

 suitable selection. He is sometimes quite fantastic, and 

 is not unfrequently disposed to carry on a most cruel flirt- 

 ation. After choosing a partner, he has been known to 

 treat her with marked indifference, and to desert her for 

 another. Should a rival appear upon the scene, a fierce 

 encounter ensues, which either results in his death or com- 

 plete vanquishment. The amours of the sexes are quite 

 vacillating and unsubstantial. 



This Grouse is more or less polygamous, both birds being 

 slightly promiscuous in their intercourse, although the 

 inclination is more decided upon the part of the male. 



Mating commences during the last of March, or the be- 

 ginning of April. No time is wasted in the usual celebration 

 consequent upon. the assumption of matrimonial relations. 

 The selection of a nesting-place, together with the several 

 duties which follow, mainly devolves upon the female ; the 

 male apparently acting as if he had no special interests 

 at stake. Nidification commences towards the beginning 

 of the second w r eek of April, and evidently consumes but a 

 brief period, from the character of the nest. The latter is 

 placed in a secluded spot, on the confines of a thicket gen- 

 erally, and not unfrequently in the vicinity of an opening 



