316 
TETRAO UMBELLUS. 
leave their sequestered haunts in the woods early in 
the morning, and seek the path or road, to pick up 
gravel, and glean among the droppings of the horses. 
In travelling among the mountains that hound the 
Susquehanna, I was always able to furnish myself 
with an abundant supply of these birds every morning 
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. The 
drumming, as it is usually called, of the pheasant, is 
another singularity of this species. This is performed 
by the male alone. In walking through solitary woods, 
frequented by these birds, a stranger is surprised by 
suddenly hearing 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, 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 th& 
call of the cock to his favourite 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 stiffened 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 mor- 
ning 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. 
