FAMILY Tetraonlda. 



bird drumming ought to be a sufficient demonstration of 

 the fact that the air has everything to do with the case 

 and the body of the bird little or nothing at all. It is the 

 air that booms under the rapid lashing of the wings, 

 just as it is the air which sings in a baritone voiee 

 through the primaries of the Nighthawk's wings as he 

 drops like a shot through the sky. 



The tone of the Partridge's kettledrum may be s.-itVly 

 recorded at A flat as well as at A, or at B flat where 

 Mr. Cheney places it. It is rather difficult to locate the 



The authors tyo records. 



3. R Cheneys record. 



tone with exactness, as it lacks life and character, but it 

 may be distinctly heard at a distance of a quarter of a 

 mile or more. The first tones are staccato, and widely 

 separated, but the last are run together in a rapid roll, 



thus : 



Accel, et cres. 



/ presto. dim. 



Boom doom 



Upon seeing the bird go through this remarkable per- 

 formance one is struck with amazement, for at the end 

 he subsides into utter quiescence instead of flying all to 

 pieces ! Why the stump or the rock on which he is perched 

 is not at once covered with every feather from his body 

 it is difficult to understand. But no, he still holds to- 

 gether, and probably if one waits a few more minutes he 

 will be at it again. Watch him closely, and presently 

 the head begins to bob up exactly like that of a rooster 

 before he begins to crow,. now the wings are spread and 

 jerk back and forward with a hollow thud at each 

 movement, and the next moment the whole bird is a 

 blurr of featJiers and the air is filled with a rushing 

 whirr which is swiftly graduated to a finish as the body 

 of the creature becomes distinct and quiet once more. 

 8 



