RUFFED GROUS. 
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on ants and small worms : when they are a few days 
old they hide themselves so artfully among the 
leaves, that it is difficult to find them. Though 
the ruffed grous hatches many young at a time, and 
often sits twice a-year, the great number and va- 
riety of hawks in Maryland feeding on them pre- 
vents their increasing fast. They live on the various 
fruits and grain of the country, but are more par- 
ticularly fond of the ivy-berry. 
This very singular property in the ruffed grous is 
described by the baron la Hontan, in his Voyage to 
North America, though he does not appear to have 
known the proper name of the bird. He has given 
his account in the following words : 
“ I went in company with some Canadese on 
purpose to see that fowl flap with its wings : believe 
me, this sight is one of the greatest curiosities in the 
world ; for their flapping makes a noise much like 
a drum, for about the space of a minute ; then the 
noise ceases for half a quarter of an hour, after 
which it begins again. By this noise we were di- 
rected to the place where the unfortunate moor-hens 
sat, and found them upon rotten mossy trees. By 
flapping one wing against the other they mean to 
call their mates ; and the humming noise that en- 
sues thereupon may be heard half a quarter of a 
league. This they do in the months of April, May, 
September, and October ; and, which is very re- 
markable, the moor-hen never flaps in this manner 
but upon one tree. It begins at break of day, and 
gives over at nine o’clock in the morning, till about an 
