20 
RUFFED GROUS. 
in rapidity till they run into each other, resembling the rumbl- 
ing sound of very distant thunder, dying away gradually on the 
ear. After a few minutes, pause this 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 fa- 
vourite female. It is produced in the following manner. The 
bird, standing on an old prostrate log, generally in a retired 
and sheltered situation, lowers his wings, erects his expanded 
tail, contracts 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 this kind, he begins to 
strike with his stifiened wings in short and quick strokes, which 
become more and more rapid until they run into each other as 
has been already described. This is most common in the morn- 
ing and evening, though I have heard them drumming at all 
hours of the day. By means of this, the gunner is led to the 
place of his retreat; though to those unacquainted with the sound, 
there is great deception in the supposed distance, it generally 
appearing to be much nearer than it really is. 
The Pheasant begins to pair in April, and builds its nest early 
in May. This is placed on the ground at the root of a bush, old 
log, or other sheltered and solitary situation, well surrounded 
with withered leaves. Unlike that of the Quail, it is open above, 
and is usually composed of dry leaves and grass. The eggs are 
from nine to fifteen in number, of a brownish white, without any 
spots, and nearly as large as those of a pullet. The young leave 
the nest as soon as hatched, and are directed by the cluck of the 
mother, very much in the manner of the common hen. On be- 
ing surprised, she exhibits all the distress and affectionate ma- 
noeuvres of the Quail, and of mostother birds, to lead you away 
from the spot. I once started a hen Pheasant, with a single young 
one, seemingly only a few days old; there might have been 
more, but I observed only this one. The mother fluttered before 
me for a moment, but suddenly darting towards theyoung one, 
seized it in her bill, and flew off along the surface through the 
