RUFFED HEATHCOCK. 
This bird, which was sent from Pennsyl- 
vania, where it is called a Pheasant, was ac- 
companied by the following curious account, , 
written by Mr. John Bartram — " He is a fine 
bird, when his gaiety is displayed; that is, 
when he spreads his tail like that of a Turkey- 
Cock, and ere£ts a circle of feathers round his 
neck hke a Ruff, walking very stately with an 
even pace, and making a noise something like 
a Turkey: at which time, the hunter must 
fire immediately at him; or he flies away, 
dire61'ly, for two or three hundred yards, be- 
fore he settles on the ground. There is some- 
thing very remarkable in wdiat we call their - 
thumping; whicli they do with their wings,, 
by clapping them against their sides, as the 
hunters say. They stand on an old fallen 
tree, that has lain many years on the ground ; 
where they begin their strokes gradually, at .', 
about two seconds of time distant from one ' 
another, and repeat them quicker and quicker, 
till they make a noise like thunder at a dis- 
tance: thenceaseth, for about six or eight mi- 
nutes, before it begins again » The sound is 
heard near half a mile,; by which means, they 
are discovered by the hunters^ and many of 
then^t 
