

RUFFED GROUSE PARTRIDGE 147 



above the log. While there they struck repeated blows 

 and then fell back to the log, where a short tussle took 

 place, When they separated and moved back to a dis- 

 tance of about six feet from one another. 



"After an interval they advanced toward each other 

 again and repeated the same performance as before. 

 The desperate battle went on by 'rounds' till several 

 were fought. How long the fight had been going on 

 before I came upon the scene I had no means of know- 

 ing, but after they had come together several times in 

 my presence, the bird that seemed the smaller moved 

 backward, still presenting a defiant attitude, with his 

 head lowered, till he came to the end of the log, when 

 he jumped off and disappeared. 



"Upon this the victor raised himself and stretched 

 up until he nearly stood on his toes, expanding his 

 wings at the same time. It looked for a moment as if 

 he would crow. Then settling himself back, he brought 

 his wings down against his breast with a sound like 

 that produced by forcibly striking a bass drum. Again 

 he raised his wings and repeated the sound. Still 

 continuing to raise and lower his wings more and more 

 rapidly, the sound finally rolled away 'in one continu- 

 ous murmur and was still.' The sound was indescrib- 

 able. As soon as he had drummed he jumped off the 

 log and disappeared. Wishing to know if the female, 

 the probable cause of the conflict, was near by, I ad- 

 vanced rapidly and started her, together with the vic- 

 tor, and a short distance away the defeated bird." 



An interesting account of a case of drumming in 



