148 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



the autumn, with its possible cause, is given by this 

 same correspondent of Forest and Stream, who says: 



"On one occasion, while out shooting in Clifton 

 Park, I fired at a grouse, which fell to the ground and 

 fluttered over it for some distance, but before I could 

 reach him rose again and, flying high, disappeared 

 over the tops of the trees in the woods. Pursuing, I 

 looked the ground well over, but was unable to find 

 him. It so happened that two or three days after this 

 occurrence I was again on the same ground, and re- 

 membering the wounded grouse, went in search of him. 

 I had not gone far when I heard a grouse drum, and 

 moving cautiously I finally got behind an old moss- 

 covered stone wall that ran through the woods. I had 

 often heard grouse drum, but I had never seen one per- 

 form the act, and I was very desirous to do so. After 

 a while he drummed again, and I moved along the 

 fence, nearer, having by this time got his bearings. 

 Upon looking over the wall I saw the bird standing 

 on what I supposed to be a stone about five or six inches 

 in height. After he had drummed he pecked at the 

 supposed stone and then bobbed his head and tail up 

 alternately, the latter being spread out. Then he 

 jumped off the object and walked in a wide circle 

 around it, after the manner of the turkey cock, with 

 wings lowered. After an interval he got on the stone 

 again and drummed and performed as before. About 

 this time something alarmed the drummer and he dis- 

 appeared into the covert. 



"Upon going to the spot where he had drummed I 



