86 STARLIGHT AND SUNSHINE. 
is mistaken who affirms the contrary, though it were Audubon 
himself.” 
This is the utterance of conviction, and its unqualified tran- 
script in Thoreau’s page adds almost the value of his indorsement. 
Nor is this all the mystery connected with the “drummer.” 
There is almost as wide a difference of opinion concerning 
the attitude of the performer as there is in relation to his tech- 
nique. We may take our choice between position erect, as in 
the instance last mentioned, which is verified by many authorities; 
or horizontal, as described by Elliot, while Audubon leaves us to 
take our choice, simply assuring us that the bird “stretches him- 
self out” during the process. Some say that his head is thrown 
back towards the tail, others that it is lowered. Indeed no two 
grouse would seem to follow the same professional method. Here 
is certainly an opportunity for some investigator to distinguish 
himself. The authorities are all at sixes and sevens on the mat- 
ter, and so long as the mere eye-memory is the only witness the 
riddle will still remain unsolved. The musical flutter of the 
grouse will continue to hoodwink the human eye. 
We have all seen ocular demonstration of otherwise occult 
facts through the revelations of the Muybridge photographs of 
animals in motion—the astonishing transitory attitudes of trotting 
horse, kicking mule, jumping dog, and even the flight of birds— 
picturing what would seem anatomical impossibilities. What a 
chance for the “snap-shot” camera in this rapid manceuvre of the 
grouse! I am not aware that the bird will drum in captivity. 
Who, then, among our amateurs with the camera will pit his wits 
against the shy mysterious drummer in his own haunts, and bring 
away his secret in the unimpeachable photograph? Why not an 
artful screen, fortified with camera, by the side of that favorite 
“drumming-log”? Such has been a long-brooding plan of mine, 
but as yet unfulfilled. 
Whatever the final verdict shall be, the writer is serenely con- 
fident that if this muffled roll of the grouse demands anything 
beyond the atmosphere as its drum, it will prove to be chanti- 
cleer who gives the key-note to his gallinaceous tribe as he “claps 
! 
