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HABITS OF BIRDS. 



Ruffed Grouse. 



walking through the solitary woods frequented by 

 the ruffed grouse, a stranger is surprised by suddenly 

 hearing a sort of bumping sound, similar to that 

 produced by two full-blown bladders struck smartly 

 together, but much louder. At the commence- 

 ment, the strokes are distinct and slow ; but they 

 are gradually increased in rapidity, till they at length 

 run into each other like the rolling beat of a drum, 

 or the rumbling of very distant thunder dying 

 away by degrees on the ear. In a calm day this 

 drumming may be heard half a mile off. It is 

 repeated after a pause of a few minutes. 



These birds begin to drum early in April, com- 



