. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. BIRDS OF AMERICA trodden forests of British Columbia I found it similarly unsuspicious. The young when reared artificially from the egg are so tame that they are in danger of being trodden underfoot. For- tunately the bird has so capable a brain that a brief experience with the " man behind the gun " serves to " educate " it and if it survives its first few experiences with flying shot it becomes quite another bird. It is only the solitary woodsman that is likely to observe the habits of the Ruffed Grouse. He who has learned the
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. BIRDS OF AMERICA trodden forests of British Columbia I found it similarly unsuspicious. The young when reared artificially from the egg are so tame that they are in danger of being trodden underfoot. For- tunately the bird has so capable a brain that a brief experience with the " man behind the gun " serves to " educate " it and if it survives its first few experiences with flying shot it becomes quite another bird. It is only the solitary woodsman that is likely to observe the habits of the Ruffed Grouse. He who has learned the art of sitting quietly tality of the male. It serves the first purpose admirably, as probably all the females within hearing come to the sound if they hear no other drummer, for the Ruffed Grouse is a polygamist and has been observed to mate with two or more females within a few minutes. The second pur- pose is served when one drummer approaches another's station, for then a fight is likely to ensue until one or the other is whipped and driven away. The third purpose apparently is the only one served in the autumn, when the mating season is over and when the birds drum. Drawing by R. I. Brasher R0FFED GROUSE (J nat. size) Its experience with man has taught it to be suspicious and shy on a log or waiting patiently in the cover of the thickets may gradually come to know many of its ways. Its drumming is one of the commonest sounds of the woods. Under favorable circum- stances the sound will carry a mile. Yet many have never been conscious of hearing it, few have ever actually seen the performance, and to this day those who have watched the birds drum in confinement are in dispute as to whether the sound is made by the wings striking the air or the feathers of the breast. The sound serves three purposes: first, as a call to the female, second, as a challenge to combat; and third, as an expression of the abounding vigor and vi- as a healthful exercise to expend their surplus energy
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