THE AROOSTOOK PARTRIDGE. 55 

Wings, as many would suppose, to hear him.  Strutting back 
and forth over the length of his log, he will stop at times, 
crane his neck, and with head turned a little to one side, 
downward, listen, then march on again, stepping slowly and 
daintily, his head just on a line with his back and he is 
making a pretty little bow at each.step. Again he stops at 
the other end of his log and listens as before. As he sees not 
nor hears his lady love, he turns, spreads wide his tail and 
repeats the promenade back again. This he will do many 
times, often unfolding his wings and shaking them out as if 
exercising for strength of muscle in his arms for the drum- 
ming. Again he reaches the centre of his log (which is 
usually his drumming spot) stops, turns in the direction from 
which he is expecting his charmer and again he is listening. 
She seems a born coquette and is no doubt coming with 
slow mincing steps, taking the most roundabout way behind 
the logs and bushes, stopping often to pretend to be taking a 
bite from something she has no appetite for; perhaps sitting 
down upon the sunnyside of a fir bush to watch and laugh at 
him, as she peeks between its branches. Finally stopping in 
the centre of his log, he stretches his head and neck high in 
air, standing straight as any soldier drummer boy, opens and 
extends his wings to right and left, brings them half-way 
back and beats them against his sides and breast, as before 
mentioned. Commencing with three or four beats slowly, 
then faster and quicker until his wings vibrate with lightning- 
like rapidity, producing loudest sounds when half through, 
when the sound begins to lessen, dwindling down to the end 
as if the effort was tiring him. 
Come with me gentle reader, where we can hear this jolly, 
gamey drummer at his best. We will step out of the hunting 
