
1016 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Dec. 28, 1907. 

but thoughts of the birds I was to secure 
buoyed up my spirits and I pressed on with 
cheering hope that a great bag would be my re- 
ward. After a toilsome tramp of an hour or 
more, I saw just ahead of me the anxiously 
looked-fore hole in the snow, and with renewed 
hope Strength, I tightened my 
grip tpon the handle of the net, and stealthily 
and restored 
approaching the spot very carefully, placed it 
This was all? No, not all, for 
my feelings were deeply wounded and my heart 
over the hole. 
was sore over the disappointment, for I had 
that I should surely capture a 
fully believed 
bird. 
The drumming of the grouse is a character- 
istic of this bird that, so far as I know, is com- 
Nearly every one 
the 
mon to no other species. 
who lives in a section of country where 
partridge abounds is familiar with the strangely 
weird music of the love call of this beautiful 
bird. That it is a love call in spring time I 
know, whatever its object may be when the 
love season has passed, for I have heard them 
drum 
the 
heard them late at night. 
at all seasons, including every month in 
year, and I have upon several occasions 
[he sound is more frequently heard in early 
spring and again in September and October. 
when on a still, balmy day they may be heard in 
direction. It fallen to the lot of 
comparatively few to witness this very striking 
every has 
performance, yet our wary bird at this time is 
peculiarly susceptible to the slightest noise. At 
the 
tootsteps he at 

east suspicion of intruding 
once takes to flight or skulks away through the 
convenient thicket. 
The partridge usually drums 
upon a log, al- 
though I have seen them go through the per- 
formance several times upon rocks and stumps, 
shall 
lorget my first experience when, a boy, I tried 
as well as on the bare ground. | never 
to locate the author of the mysterious sound 
that came from a smal] clearing next to some 
woods. The clearing had grown up to 
about six feet in height, and I determined to 
sprouts 
investigate and obtain a view of the perform- 
ance and learn just how so small a bird could 
make so great a noise. 
I had been told, and fully believed, that they 
and that the 
noise was made by beating the sides of the log 
had the 
clearing, for it was a famous place for 
always drummed on a hollow log 

with their wings. I often explored 
winter- 
green berries, and I knew there was a large 
hollow log near the place that the noise ap- 
from. When I reached the 
I got down upon all fours 
peared to come 
edge of the cover, 
and stealthily crept toward the log until it was 
twenty distant. I could 
plainly see every portion of the log, but there 
it, and I was about to rise to 
not more thar feet 
was no bird o1 

my feet when the muffled thunder of the first 
drumbeat held me spell-bound until the per- 
formance was over, when with bated breath 
and wildly throbbing heart, I noiselessly crept 
to the log, as the noise was evidently some little 
distance beyond it. When I reached the log I 
raised my head, so that my eyes were just 
above it, when I saw the bird some thirty feet 
distant standing upon a stone, but he un- 
doubtedly saw or heard me, for with a thunder- 
ous roar he took 
woods. 
The hollow log theory had entire possession 
of my mind, and I decided that the bird had 
his departure for the adjacent 
run from it at my approach. A close examina- 
tion, however, conclusively proved to me that 
he had never set foot upon it, for its entire 
surface was closely covered with small scally 
portions of bark that crumbled and fell to the 
ground at the lightest touch. Then it came to 
me that I heard him drumming beyond the log, 
and the probability seemed almost certain that 
he had this upon the I at once 
proceeded to examine it. 1 found it to be about 
done stone. 
three feet in length by two in width, nearly 
the shape of an inverted platter and about a 
foot in height. Not more than half convinced, 
I determined to go to the bottom of this and 
by thorough investigation to learn the whole 
truth of the matter, 
point, about thirty feet from the end of the 
log and the same distance from the stone, I 
Selecting a small bushy 

RUFFED GROUSE FOUR MONTH S OLD, 
cut away branches enough to make a small 
peep-hole, and then cutting a path in the rear 
to an home and 
patiently waited for the time when I should 
open place, I returned im- 
again hear the mysterious sound. 
It was nearly noon the next day when I heard 
it, and I at once started at full speed for the 
place, and was soon at the little opening, when 
I crawled along the path and had nearly reached 
the pine, when I again heard him, and hastening 
along, I looked through the little opening just 
in time to see the finish. He was at the middle 
of the stone, and as I caught sight of him, was 
settling down into a crouching position, and, ex- 
cept for an occasional spasmodic jerk of his 
head, appeared to be taking a doze. This con- 
tinued for quite a while, then he rose, and 
standing apparently on tiptoe with his head 
thrown well back and ruff erect, he spread his 
wings to their full extent, and with a quick 
motion brought them together in front; then 
after about a second he again brought them to- 
gether, and this he repeated with ever-increas- 
the finish, which was of a 
cyclonic order, and he was the most animated 
owner of feathers that I ever beheld. This per- 
formance was a revelation to me, and, although 
entirely different from what I had expected, I 
was perfectly satisfied. Gone forever was my 
belief in the hollow log theory, and gone my 
faith in the man who had told the fairy tale. 
How many similar tales I have found false 
I cannot say, but they have been very many. 
I have witnessed this performance at several 
times, but it was always very nearly the same, 
except that the surroundings were often very 
dissimilar. One thing that struck me as very 
peculiar was that the noise appeared to sound 
louder when half a mile away than it did when 
ing speed until 
sO near. 
I have somewhere heard that the partridge 
is devoted to its mate, is faithful unto death. 
The truth of the matter is that, after the 
love season has passed, the male has abso- 
lutely nothing to do with family affairs, and 
that the statement that the birds go “wandering 
hand in hand through sylvan groves” is a mere 
fancy flight of some carpet sportsman’s 
nation. 
I once believed this, and I well remember 
imagi- 
that if, when shooting, I killed but One Ofea 
pair that rose in front of me, I felt very sad to 
think that the survivor would hereafter sadly 
wander through the “sylvan groves” all alone. 
I therefore made it a hard and fast rule to bag 
them both, if possible. I once brought down 
a brace that rose nearly at the same time, and 
when the dog brought them in, a glance threw 
me into a state of doubt, and when I made an 
examination I found that they were both males. 
This set me to thinking, and for a long time 
afterward when I bagged a pair I at once ex- 
amined them, and in a very large majority of 
cases both proved to be of one sex, with a large 
preponderance of males. While this may not be 
evidence positive enough to convince the senti- 
mental reader, it fully satisfied me, so far as 
that “hand in hand” theory was concerned. 
Later, every particle of this sentimental feeling 
obliterated when I discovered that our 
beautiful bird is a polygamist, or, at least, he 
was in Connecticut some sixty years ago, for on 
was 

several occasions I “caught them with the 
goods.” 
[TO BE CONTINUED. ] 
Carelessness with Guns. 
AN accident just reported gives additional 
emphasis to the caution to boys and young men 
So often repeated in the recent articles on “How 
to Carry a Gun.” It is carelessness that causes 
these accidents. Therefore remember to be al- 
ways careful. This is the accident referred to: 
“Dr. Vernon Paul, a young English medical 
man, was the victim of an extraordinary acci- 
dent. He had been rabbit shooting with some 
friends; the sport over, the guns were placed in 
a motor car in readiness for the return journey. 
By some mischance one of them was left loaded, 
and just as Dr. Paul was taking his seat a dog 
jumped into the car and touched the trigger. 
The charge entered Dr. Paul’s body, passing 
through the left lung and killing him instantly.” 

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