338 
ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL 
small flocks, rarely exceeding eight or twelve. At 
other seasons it seldom happens that more than three 
or four are seen together. This species exhibits a 
remarkably strong attachment to its young. When 
the hunter approaches the spot where the" brood lie 
concealed, the mother usually sallies forth in the 
greatest rage, with the tail broadly spread, the wings 
buzzing and rubbing on the ground, and the shoulder- 
knots raised ; and in this grotesque condition she 
continues to run backwards and forwards, in a state of 
the most anxious solicitude, within a few yards of the 
sportsman, whose feelings are probably" in no way 
softened by such an exhibition of maternal tenderness. 
“ Sabine’s grouse not only resembles Tetrao umbellus 
jn the prevailing characters of its plumage, but also in 
its habit ot perching on stumps of decayed trees in the 
darkest parts of the forest, and there performing the 
singular operation called drumming, which is effected 
by giving two or three loud distinct slaps with the 
wings, followed by many others, which become quicker 
for its nest ; the gray flycatcher will have cobwebs for the outworks 
ot its shed. All the pares tribe, except the individual above men- 
tioned, select some hollow in a tree, or cranny in a wall • and* 
sheltered as such places must be, yet will they collect abundance of 
leathers, and warm materials lor their infants’ beds. Endle* 
examples might be found of tile dissimilarity of requirements i» 
these constructions among the several associates of our groves, mV 
hedges, and our houses; and yet the supposition cannot be 
entertained for a moment, that they are superfluous, or not 
essential, for some purpose with which wo arc unacquainted.* 
* I remember no bird that seems to sutler so frcoucntlv from the 
peculiar construction of its nest, and, by reason of our common obsei- 
vanee of its sufferings, obtains more of our pity, than the house martin- 
r .! oks will at times have flipir nests torn from their uirv site, o r 
have their eggs shaken from it by the gales of spring, but the l"'" r 
martin, winch places its earthy shed beneath the cave of the barn, the 
roof of the House, or in the corner of the house window, is more 
generally injured July and August are the months In which these 
birds usually bring out their young, but one rainy day at this period, 
attended with wind, will often moisten the earth that composes the 
nest, the cement then fails, and nil the unfledged voumr ones are dashed 
upon the ground ; and there are some places to which these poor birds 
are unfortunately partial, though their nests are annually washed 
down. 1 lie projecting thatch of the old farm-house appears to tie their 
»ju est asylum. The parent birds at times seem aware of the niisfortm lfl 
tiiat atvaits them, as, before the calamity is completed, we may observe 
mm with great anxiety hovering - about their nests.” — Knapp. 
