THE KUFFED GROUSE. 289 



has proved himself to be, should- fall into the strange 

 error of speaking of this singular Amorous sound as a 

 call to a single female ; and elsewhere of the Pheasant, 

 as he erroneously calls it, pairing ; when it is notorious 

 to all who have closely observed the habits of this bird, 

 that it is polygamous. Such, I believe, will be found 

 the case with all those gallinaceous birds which have an 

 especial summons, or peculiar display of attitudes, airs, 

 and splendors by which to attract the females ; as may 

 be observed of the common Game-cock, the Turkey, the 

 Peacock, and the European Pheasant ; no one of which 

 takes to himself an especial and chosen partner, but 

 disports himself in his wanton seraglio. 



On many occasions, during this particular season, 

 I have stolen up to within a few yards of the log, 

 whereon the Ruffed Grouse was so busily employed in 

 summoning his dames and demoiselles around him, that 

 he had no ears or eyes for my approach, which at any 

 other period he would have discovered long before, and 

 whirred away tumultuous on terrified and sounding 

 pinions. I have lain concealed, for an hour at a time, 

 watching with intense gratification the beautiful and 

 animated gestures of the cock, now strutting and drum- 

 ming on his log, proud as an eastern despot, now 

 descending to caress and dally with his numerous Eoxa- 

 lanas, and then reascending to his post of pride, to send 

 his resonant call far through the haunted echoes of the 

 umbrageous pine-woods. On one such chance, I saw no 

 13 



