20 RUFFED GROUS. 



in rapidity till they run into each other, resembling the rumbl- 

 ing sound of very distant thunder, dying away gradually on the 

 ear. After a few minutes, pause this is again repeated; and in a 

 calm day may be heard nearly half a mile off. This drumming 

 is most common in spring, and is the call of the cock to his fa- 

 vourite female. It is produced in the following manner. The 

 bird, standing on an old prostrate log, generally in a retired 

 and sheltered situation, lowers his wings, erects his expanded 

 tail, contracts his throat, elevates the two tufts of feathers on 

 the neck, and inflates his whole body, something in the manner 

 of the turkey cock, strutting and wheeling about with great 

 stateliness. After a few manoeuvres of this kind, he begins to 

 strike with his stiffened wings in short and quick strokes, which 

 become more and more rapid until they run into each other as 

 has been already described. This is most common in the morn- 

 ing and evening, though I have heard them drumming at all 

 hours of the day. By means of this, the gunner is led to the 

 place of his retreat; though to those unacquainted with the sound, 

 there is great deception in the supposed distance, it generally 

 appearing to be much nearer than it really is. 



The Pheasant begins to pair in April, and builds its nest early 

 in May. This is placed on the ground at the root of a bush, old 

 log, or other sheltered and solitary situation, well surrounded 

 with withered leaves. Unlike that of the Quail, it is open above, 

 and is usually composed of dry leaves and grass. The eggs are 

 from nine to fifteen in number, of a brownish white, without any 

 spots, and nearly as large as those of a pullet. The young leave 

 the nest as soon as hatched, and are directed by the cluck of the 

 mother, very much in the manner of the common hen. On be- 

 ing surprised, she exhibits all the distress and affectionate ma- 

 noeuvres of the Quail, and of mostother birds, to lead you away 

 from the spot. I once started a hen Pheasant, with a single young 

 one, seemingly only a few days old; there might have been 

 more, but I observed only this one. The mother fluttered before 

 me for a moment, but suddenly darting towards the young one, 

 seized it in her bill, and flew off along the surface through the 



