128 
THE RUFFED GROCSE. 
iiig without. leaving tlie parh. If \hp weather be 
foggy* or loH'i>rifif,^ they are sure to hi* si^en in such 
situations. They generally mo'pe along with great 
staieliness, their hrontl faii-lik«* tail spread out in 
the mauiier eslviliiie<l in tlm drawing. Tlie drum- 
ming, as it is usually (mllei!, of the plieawaiit, is an- 
other 8in5tilarity of this species. This is |>erformed 
by thi> nuile aione. In walking ihrongh solitary 
wootlf, frequttnted hy these birds, a stranger is sur- 
prised by suddenly hearing a kind of thumping very 
similar to that produt-ed by striking two full-blown 
ox-b}ad<lern tog eiher, but much louder ; the strokea 
at firat are fthtw and dl**tini:t, but gTadnally increase 
in mpidity, till ihi^y run into each other, resembling 
the rumbling sound of very distant thunder, dying 
away giadually on the ear. After a few minutes' 
pause, this tn again repe.itpd, and, in a calm day, 
may be heard nearly half a mile off^ This drumming 
b moat common in spring, and i& the raJt of the cock 
to hia favourite female. It is produced in the fol- 
lowing manner : — The bird, standing on an old pros- 
tiate log, generally in a retired and sheltered situa- 
tion, lowers his wings, erects his expantled tail, con- 
tract* hk tliroat, eh-vates the two tufts of feathers 
on the neck, and inflates his whole Ipody, something 
in the manner of the turkey cotk, stnilting and 
wheeling about with great staielineim. After a few 
nianoeuvrea of this kind, he begins to strike with his 
stifi'ened wings in tAiuri and quick strokes, which be- 
come more and more rapid until they run into each 
