78 THE RUFFED GROUSE. 



drumming is repeated more frequently at all hours of the day; and where 

 these birds are abundant, this curious sound is heard from all parts of the 

 woods in which they reside. The drumming is performed in the following 

 manner. The male bird, standing erect on a prostrate decayed trunk, raises 

 the feathers of its body, in the manner of a Turkey-cock, draws its head 

 towards its tail, erecting the feathers of the latter at the same time, and 

 raising its ruff around the neck, suffers its wings to droop, and struts about 

 on the log. A few moments elapse, when the bird draws the whole of its 

 feathers close to its body, and stretching itself out, beats its sides with its 

 wings, in the manner of the domestic Cock, but more loudly, and with such 

 rapidity of motion, after a few of the first strokes, as to cause a tremor in the 

 air not unlike the rumbling of distant thunder. This, kind reader, is the 

 "drumming'" of the Pheasant. In perfectly calm weather, it may be heard 

 at the distance of two hundred yards, but might be supposed to proceed 

 from a much greater distance. The female, which never drums, flies directly 

 to the place where the male is thus engaged, and, on approaching him, opens 

 her wings before him, balances her body to the right and left, and then 

 receives his caresses. 



The same trunk is resorted to by the same birds during the season, unless 

 they are frequently disturbed. These trunks are easily known by the 

 quantity of excrements and feathers about them. The males have the liberty 

 of promiscuous concubinage, although not to such an extent as those of the 

 Pinnated Grouse. They have frequent and severe battles at this season, 

 which, although witnessed by the females, are never interrupted by them. 

 The drumming sounds of these birds lead to their destruction, every young 

 sportsman taking the unfair advantage of approaching them at this season, 

 and shooting them in the act. 



About the beginning of May, the female retires to some thicket in a close 

 part of the woods, where she forms a nest. This is placed by the side of a 

 prostrate tree, or at the foot of a low bush, on the ground, in a spot where a 

 heap of dried leaves has been formed by the wind. The nest is composed of 

 dried leaves and herbaceous plants. The female lays from five to twelve 

 eggs, which are of a uniform dull yellowish colour, and are proportionate in 

 size to the bird. The latter never covers them on leaving the nest, and in 

 consequence, the Raven and the Crow, always on the look out for such 

 dainties, frequently discover and eat them. When the female is present, 

 however, she generally defends them with great obstinacy, striking the 

 intruder with her wings and feet, in the manner of the Common Hen. 



The young run about and follow the mother, the moment after they leave 

 the egg. They are able to fly for a few yards at a time, when only six or 

 seven days old, and still very small. The mother leads them in search of 



