RUFFED GROUS. 
471 
remarkable noise made by clapping their wings 
forcibly against their bodies. Bartram tells us that 
they generally stand upon an old fallen tree that 
has long lain upon the ground, and begin their 
strokes gradually, at intervals of about two seconds 
of time, and repeat them quicker and quicker, till 
they make a noise like distant thunder. This con- 
tinues, from the beginning, about a minute; after 
which it ceases, and all is quiet for a little while; 
when it begins again. The sound is heard near 
half a mile ; by which means they are discovered by 
the hunters, and many of them killed. Mr. Bar- 
tram shot several in this position, but never saw 
them thump , as they constantly left off when he 
appeared. 
Mr. Brooke observes that the ruffed grous breeds 
in all parts of Maryland, except some of the coun- 
tries on the eastern shore. They lay their eggs in 
nests made in the leaves, either by the side of fallen 
trees or the roots of standing ones. The time of 
incubation is in the spring, and they lay from 
twelve to sixteen eggs. Mr. Brooke says, that when 
a boy he has often found their nests, and has en- 
deavoured to take the old grous, but never could 
succeed : her natural attachment to her eggs would 
induce her to remain till he almost put his hand 
upon her before she would quit the nest; and then, 
by fluttering just before him for a hundred paces or 
more, and constantly giving him hopes of catching 
her, she has at length enticed him completely from 
the eggs. The young are supposed to live at first 
