198 Mr. Peabody on the 
and at the close of day. It is produced by the male, 
who beats his sides with such a rapid motion as to 
make this sound resembling distant thunder, which 
is heard at a prodigious distance in the woods. It 
is said to be imitated by striking an inflated bladder 
with a stick ; on hearing it, the male takes it for a 
challenge, and as he comes forth to do battle with 
his supposed rival, he falls an easy prey. The nest 
is constructed in May. It is little more than a 
handful of leaves, spread under a bush, or at the side 
of a fallen log, and, unlike that of the quail, it has no 
roof above. The eggs are from nine to fifteen, 
brownish white. The young leave the nest as soon 
as hatched, and are led by the mother with a cluck 
like that of the hen. If the family are surprised, 
the mother resorts to arts like those of the quail, 
throwing herself on the ground, fluttering and beat- 
ing with her wings, as if hardly able to move; and 
while she thus draws off the attention' of the intru- 
der, she calls to the young to disperse and hide 
themselves. They do this so effectually that they 
are seldom found, though they only creep among the 
dry leaves, or remain perfectly still, trusting that 
their resemblance to the earth will conceal them 
from an unfriendly eye. 
The old birds, when hard pressed by the hunter; 
if there is snow on the ground, save themselves by 
iving into it, and working their way out at some 
distance from the place where they went in. Much 
as they are pursued, they are still abundant in 
New England, and the wildness of their habits will 
save them from extermination so long as the forests 
