APPENDIX. 197 
Rurrep Grouse. — Contin, 
\ 
rods. I have searched for the bird when I have heard the drumming, 
and while supposing him to be at a considerable distance, have flushed him. 
within the distance of fifty feet, and vice versa.” — Samuels, E. A.; Our 
Northern and Eastern Birds, pp. 386-387. 
“Tn the spring and early summer may be heard that remarkable sound 
called ‘drumming.’ Whoever is fortunate enough to approach closely an 
old cock in the act of drumming, will be well rewarded for the trouble that 
he may have taken in so doing. Generally on a log or broad stump or ina 
cleared spot, the bird will be seen, puffed like a turkey to twice his 
natural size, with his crest erect, his ruffs extended, and his tail spread, 
strutting about, lowering or twisting his neck and head, and then suddenly 
beating violently with his wings his inflated body. This causes a sound 
which on a favorable day may be heard for a mile or two, and which is 
often repeated at intervals for some time. One can appreciate the 
muscular vitality of the wings and the rapidity of their motion, by 
endeavoring to imitate the sound on a cushion (or other surface) with the 
hand. It will be found impossible to equal or even to approach the rapidity 
of the repeated strokes.” — Minot, H. D.: Land-birds and Game-birds of 
N.E., p. 390. 
“ Most writers follow Audubon and Nuttall in saying that the drumming 
is produced by striking the wings against the body; but from the accounts 
given me by reliable sportsmen, there is no doubt that the above high 
authorities are in error. Wilson does not say that the wings are struck 
against the body, though it is somewhat uncertain whether he meant to 
say so or not, since the rest of his description is substantially that of 
Audubon and Nuttall. 
“My esteemed friend, Mr. H. W. Henshaw, of Cambridge, Mass., has 
furnished me with what I believe to be a reliable account of the manner 
in which the drumming is produced. His authorities are his father and 
Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, — the latter an accomplished sports- 
man, whose statements I can vouch for myself. Mr. Henshaw describes 
the drumming process as follows : — 
“¢ The bird sits crosswise upon the log, resting upon the back of the tarsi 
(not standing erect as described by some writers), its tail projecting nearly 
horizontally behind (not erected) and spread ; the head is drawn back, the 
feathers pressed close to the body. The wings are then raised and stiff- 
ened,and drumming commences by a slow, hard stroke with both wings, 
downward and forward; but they are stopped before they touch the body. 
The rapidity of this motion is increased after the first few beats, when the 
wings move so fast that only a semi-circular haze over the bird is visible ; 
