150 THE RUFFED GROUSE. 



ing without leaving the path. If the weather be 

 foggy, or lowering, they are sure to be seen in such 

 situations. They generally move along with great 

 stateliness, their broad fan-like tail spread out in 

 the manner exhibited in the drawing. The drum- 

 ming, as it is usually called, of the pheasant, is an- 

 other singularity of this species. This is performed 

 by the male alone. In walking through solitary 

 woods, frequented by these birds, a stranger is sur- 

 prised by suddenly hearing a kind of thumping very 

 similar to that produced by striking two full-blown 

 ox-bladders together, but much louder ; the strokes 

 at first are slow and distinct, but gradually increase 

 in rapidity, till they run into each other, resembling 

 the rumbling sound of very distant thunder, dying 

 away gradually on the ear. After a few minutes' 

 pause, this is again repeated, and, in a calm day, 

 may be heard nearly half a mile off. This drumming 

 is most common in spring, and is the call of the cock 

 to his favourite female. It is produced in the fol- 

 lowing manner : The bird, standing on an old pros- 

 trate log, generally in a retired and sheltered situa- 

 tion, lowers his wings, erects his expanded tail, con- 

 tracts his throat, elevates the two tufts of feathers 

 on the neck, and inflates his whole body, something 

 in the manner of the turkey cock, strutting and 

 wheeling about with great stateliness. After a few 

 manoeuvres of this kind, he begins to strike with his 

 stiffened wings in short and quick strokes, which be- 

 come more and more rapid until they run into each 



