268 USEFUL BIRDS. 



and ends in a rolling, accelerated tattoo. It has a ventrilo- 

 quial property. Sometimes when one is very close to the 

 bird the drumming seems almost soundless ; at other times 

 it seems much louder at a distance, as if through some prin- 

 ciple of acoustics it Avere most distinctly audible at a certain 

 radius from the bird. It is the bird's best expression of its 

 abounding vigor and virility, and signifies that the drummer 

 is ready for love or war. 



The female alone undertakes the task of incubation and 

 the care of the young. Once, however, when I came upon 

 a young brood, the agonized cry of the distressed mother 

 attracted a fine cock bird. He raised all his feathers, and, 

 with ruffs and tail spread, strutted up to within a rod of 

 my position, seemingly almost as much concerned as the 

 female, but not coming quite so near. The hen sometimes 

 struts toward the intruder in a similar manner when sur- 

 prised while with her young. She can raise her ruffs and 

 strut exactly like the cock. 



The Grouse has so many enemies that it seems remarkable 

 how it can escape them, nesting, as it does, on the ground. 

 Instances are on record, however, where birds that probably 

 have been much persecuted have learned to deposit their 

 eggs in old nests of Hawks or Crows, in tall trees. When- 

 ever the mother bird leaves the nest the eggs are easily seen, 

 and while she sits it would seem impossible for her where- 

 abouts to remain a secret to the keen-scented prowlers of the 

 woods. But her colors blend so perfectly with those of the 

 dead leaves on the forest floor, and she sits so closely and 

 remains so motionless among the shadows, that she escapes 

 the sharp-eyed Hawk. She gives out so little scent that the 

 dog, skunk, or fox often passes quite near, unnoticing. 



The Grouse does not naturally fear man ; more than once 

 in the wilderness of the northwest a single bird has walked 

 up to within a few feet of me. They will sit on limbs 

 just above one's head, almost within reach, and regard one 

 curiously, but without much alarm. Usually in Massachu- 

 setts when a human being comes near the nest the mother 

 bird whirs loudly away. She has well learned the fear of 

 man ; but in a place where no shooting was permitted, a large 



