144 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



In the Rocky Mountains, in September, a few years 

 ago, I saw a grouse cross the trail along which I was 

 walking and disappear in the bushes to the left. The 

 clump of bushes was a small one, not more than twenty 

 yards across. I watched the bird while it was walking 

 perhaps ten yards, and then went on, but had hardly 

 come to where the bird had crossed the path when I 

 heard it drum. The sound was not loud and gave the 

 impression of being quite distant. I stood still for a 

 moment, trying to see the bird, but without success, 

 and after a little while the drumming began again, still 

 sounding as distant as before. I then very quietly made 

 my way into the bushes, advancing six or eight yards 

 toward the point where I had last seen the grouse, but 

 the drumming was not resumed, and after a few mo- 

 ments I withdrew, but had hardly reached the trail 

 when I again heard the sound. A second excursion 

 into the bushes was no more successful than the first 

 had been, but somewhat later, on my return, hearing 

 the drumming, I again went into the bushes, and just 

 beyond where I had seen the grouse disappear I saw 

 it walk away among the brush. This is mentioned only 

 to indicate how very faint the sound of the drumming 

 may be, although it is quite close at hand. 



Few subjects have been more discussed by American 

 naturalists and sportsmen than this same drumming, 

 a sound so familiar to outdoor men as hardly to need 

 description. It is commonly thought to be a mating 

 call, though by no means sounded only at the pairing 

 season in spring ; for the roll of the drumming, sound- 



