KIK.MS oh' INDIANA. 753 



open, in (lie fall. They are then even known io enter towns. I 

 have ;i specimen that was shot from an apple tree in the yard of a 

 neighbor in Brookville. Throughout the level and more thickly set- 

 ik'd portions of the State they are becoming scarce. 



Mr. Parker says they are rare in Cook County, 111., but that a few 

 arc to be found in Lake County, Ind. Mrs. Jane L. Hine says they 

 are common in Dekalb County. It has been reported in recent years 

 from the following additional counties: Monroe, frequent (Martin); 

 Carroll, rare (Evermann); Brown, common resident (Kindle); Deca- 

 tnr (Giithrie): Howard, rare (Woody); Starke (Deane); Allen (Stock- 

 bridge); Putnam (Clearwaters); Tippecanoe (Dr. E. Test); Steuben 

 (Mrs. L. M. Sniff); Laporte (Barber); Elkhart (Juday); Knox, rare 

 (Chansler); Boone, rare (Beasley); Parke, rare (Clickener); Benton, 

 specimen in the State Museum; Kosciosko (Haymond); Porter (Par- 

 ker); Wabash, becoming rare (Illrey and Wallace). In the White- 

 water Valley this bird is known as "Pheasant." In som'e other locali- 

 ties it is called "Partridge." These names but serve to confuse one, 

 as it is neither; it is a Grouse. The term "Partridge" is also quite 

 widely applied to the Bobwhite. 



One of the characteristic sounds from the woods, where the Ruffed 

 Grouse dwells, particularly in early spring, is the drumming of the 

 male. I have notes of its drumming in this State as early as March 

 25, and through April and Ma} r it is most commonly heard, and one 

 record is June 3, 1888 (Deane). It is said, some places, to begin drum- 

 ming in February and to have been known to drum almost every 

 month in the year. The sound is most often heard during the breed- 

 ing season. I lake the liberty of giving what Major Bendire tells us 

 is the description of the method of drumming, by Mr. Manly Hardy, 

 of l>rewer, Maine, a reliable and careful observer. He says: "The 

 cock Grouse usually selects a mossy log, near some open hedge, clear- 

 ing or wood-road, and, partly screened by bushes, where he can see 

 and not be seen. When about to drum, he erects his neck feathers, 

 spreads his tail, and, with drooping wings, steps with a jerking motion 

 along the log some distance each way from his drumming place, walk- 

 ing back and forth several times, and looking sharply in every direc- 

 tion; then, standing crosswise, he stretches himself to his fullest 

 height, and delivers the blows with his wings fully upon his sides, his 

 wings being several inches clear from the log. After drumming, he 

 settles quietly down into a sitting posture and remains, silently listen- 

 ing for five or ten minutes, when, if no cause of alarm is discovered, 

 lie repeats the process. 



48 GEOL 



