The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-24
DRUMMING or THE GROUSE.
The Process % Described BY IN Observant
Wo0<iaman.

The Process % Described BY IN Observant
Woo<iaman.
A particular description Of the manner In
which the male grouse drums Is given by
Edward Banks OF Price county. Wis,
who has spent some time in observing 1t
at this pastime, il it may be called pas
tins. Banks has been building a cabin
amid the hemlock woods near Long Lake,
going to his work just after daybreak and
putting In all OF the day hours with axe and
saw. 80 p % C.. 80 4.
Early in May he heard a grouse drumming
As usual the sound seemed to be long way
of, but he decided at investigate and began
moving softly among the trees. He found
the bird within Atty yards, got within
twenty yards Of 1t. hid behind big birch
and watched 1t.
The grouse stood upon q dead log nearly
three feet through and bare OF bark. II
was standing motionless when Banks saw
IL, apparently half asleep.
Soon 1t began to show signs OF uneasiness
poking it's head first to the left and then to
the right Then 1t squAtted, bringing ue
breast within an inch Of the log and began
to drum.
seconds. then ceased, and the bird became
once more erect Fully five minutes elapsed
before 1t drummed again. 30 long as he
watched II, intervals OF from three to five
minutes passed between the drummings;
It always preceded the drumming mi ~ the the
sgns q ST'ns s a ,, 10 XIV
log. Just before the drumming started,
when It had sQuatted into position, 1t spread
out the gray feathers Of Its tail az widely
as they would Co. making fan just as the
turkey gobbler spreads its tail when IT
This fan the grouse brought down upon
the log and held 1t there. pressing 1t against
the timber as tightly az possible, and II
! kept It 50 while the drumming lasted, not
relaxing the tension until the last SOUND
had ceased. While drumming the head
was stretched far forward and the neck
The bird always began its drumming
by two or three tentative flaps, given slowly
and producing only softly muffled noise,
1t seemed to he doubtful OF Its ability to
drum and appeared to be trying how 1t
After these two or three flaps it brought
its wings sharply against Its body and
sailed out into the full tide OF its instru-
mentaton The strokes. at first slow. in
creased swiftly in rapdity, finally merging
Of the grouse when in full flight. Then the
drumming ceased abruptly, not shading
down into slowness and softness, as it had
begun.
Sometimes, having completed Its beats. the
| grouse would walk up and down on the log
| FOR two or three feet. evidently immensely
proud of itself. Always when the drum,
| ming was resumed, 1t took It's original
position. standing with Its feet IN exactly
! the same place,
In making this sound the rear edges OF
| the wings were brought down and for
ward. The grouse, In fact. seemed to be
scooping its wings forward and slapplng
| itself upon the breast In much the same
manner az a man slaps himself upon the
| chest In cold weather; only, OF course. the
F, wings were not crossed. The wings were
brought a. far forward as possible and out
| stretched before they were slammed against
| the body.
On every clear day since then this grouse
has drummed on the same log, standing in
| the same place. 1t keeps 1t up for hours
| In the morning. goes away shortly before
noon and returns about o'clock In the
| afternoon, drumming nearly until sunset
| at intervals Of five minutes.
Banks is certain that 1t does not brush
the log with the tips Of its wings and that
such contact has no part In producing the
| hollow, thunderous notes OF the drum
| There Is short green moss on the iog where
the grouse stands. and though the bird has
| drumIned there not less than dozen times
this moss shows no signs OF having been
disturbed.
Banks Is certain that the female 10 nest.
| ing somewhere near. When the hen V
sitting the male bird does not wander far
| from the neat