184 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



BEATING OR DRUMMING OF THE PHEASANT. 



"Hearest thou that bird? 



I list'ned, and from 'midst the depths of woods 

 Heard the signal of the Grouse, 

 A sound like distant thunder; 

 Slow the strokes at first, then faster and faster, 

 'Till at length they passed into a murmur and were still/' 



BRYANT. 



JN some of our districts, the woods, mountains, and 

 bills of our country resound far and wide with the 

 sound of the beating or dramming of the Pheasant. 

 This sound is a very singular noise. It is a kind of 

 rumbling sound, or a tremor in the air, very much like the 

 rumbling of distant thunder. When this- sound vibrates 

 from hill to hill, it is a difficult matter to locate the exact 

 spot from whence it comes. This rumbling sound is called 

 beating or drumming of the Pheasant, and on a clear, still 

 day, may b^ heard a long distance off. This peculiar 

 sound is made by the beating or drumming of the Cock 

 Pheasant, as has been described by Mr, Audubon, in this 

 way. 



"The male bird, standing erect on a prostrate decayed 

 trunk, raises the feathers of Us body in the manner of the 

 Turkey Cock y draws its head towards its tail, erecting the 

 leathers of the latter at the same time, and raising its ruff 

 around the neck, suffers its wings to drop, and struts about 

 on the log, a few moments elapse when the bird draws the 

 whole of its feathers close to its body, and stretching itself 

 out, beats its sides with its wings in the manner of the 

 Domestic Cock, but more loudly, and with such rapidity 

 of motion, after a few of the first strokes, as to cause a 

 tremor in the air not unlike the rumbling of distant 

 thunder." 



