128 THE RUFFEI> OHO USE. 
ing without leaving the path. If the weather be 
foggy, or lowering, they are sure to be seen in such 
situations. They generally move along with great 
stateliness, their broad fan-like tail spread out in 
the maimer exhibited in the drawing. The drum- 
ming, as it is usually called, of the pheasant, is an- 
other singularity of this species. This is performed 
by the male alone. In walking through solitary 
woods, frequented by these birds, a Btrangcr is sur- 
prised by suddenly bearing a kind of thumping very 
similar to that produced by striking two full-blown 
ox-bladders together, but much louder; the strokes 
at first are slow and distinct, but gradually increase 
in rapidity, till they run into each other, resembling 
the rumbling sound of very distant thunder, dying 
away gradually on the ear. After a few minutes* 
pause, tliis is again repeated, and, in a calm day, 
may be heard nearly half a mile off. This drumming 
is most common in spring, and is the call of the cock 
to his favourite female. It is produced in the fol- 
lowing manner : — The bird, standing on an old pros- 
trate log, generally in a relived and sheltered situa- 
tion, lowers his wings, erects his expanded tail, con- 
tracts his throat, elevates the two tufts of feathers 
on the neck, and inflates his whole body, something 
in the manner of the turkey cock, strutting and 
wheeling about with great stateliness. After a few 
manoeuvres of tins kind, he begins to strike with his 
stifle lied wings in short and quick strokes, which be- 
come more and more rapid until they run into each 
