RUFFED GROUSE. 



255 



The pheasant generally springs within a few yards, with a 

 loud whirring noise,* and flies with great vigour through the 



* Mr Audubon has the following observations on the flight and 

 whirring noise produced during it : — " When this bird rises from the 

 ground, at a time when pursued by an enemy or tracked by a dog, it 

 produces a loud whirring sound, resembling that of the whole tribe, 

 excepting the blackcock of Europe, which has less of it than any other 

 species. This whirring sound is never heard when the grouse rises of 

 its own accord for the purpose of removing from one place to another ; 

 nor, in similar circumstances, is it commonly produced by our little 

 partridge. In fact, I do not believe that it is emitted by any species of 

 grouse, unless when surprised and forced to rise. I have often been 

 lying on the ground in the woods or the fields for hours at a time, for 

 the express purpose of observing the movements and habits of different 

 birds, and have frequently seen a partridge or a grouse rise on wing 

 from within a few yards of the spot in which I lay, unobserved by them, 

 as gently and softly as any other bird, and without producing any 

 whirring sound. Nor even when this grouse ascends to the top of a 

 tree does it make any greater noise than other birds of the same size 

 would do." 



The structure of the wings among all the' 'Tetraonidce and Phasianidce 

 is such as to preclude the possibility of an entirely noiseless flight when 

 the members are actively used ; but I have no doubt that it can be, 

 and is sometimes, increased. "When any kind of game is suddenly 

 sprung or alarmed, the wings are made use of with more violence than 

 when the flight is fairly commenced, or a rise to the branch of a tree is 

 only contemplated. I have heard it produced by all our British game 

 to a certain extent, when flying over me perfectly unalarmed. The 

 noise is certainly produced by the rapid action of the wings, and I 

 believe the birds cannot exert that with a totally noiseless flight. 

 Sounds at variance from that occasioned by ordinary flight are produced 

 by many birds, particularly during the breeding season, when different 

 motions are employed ; and it appears to me to be rather a consequence 

 depending on the peculiar flight, than the flight employed to produce 

 the sound as a love or other call. Such is the booming noise produced 

 by snipes in spring, always accompanied by the almost imperceptible 

 motion of the wings in the very rapid descent of the bird. A somewhat 

 similar sound is produced by the lapwing when flying near her nest or 

 young, and is always heard during a rapid flight performed diagonally 

 downwards. The cock pheasant produces a loud whirr by a violent 

 motion of his wings after calling. A very peculiar rustling is heard 

 when the peacock raises his train, and the cause, a rapid, trembling 

 motion of the feathers, is easily perceived ; and the strut of the turkey 



