File:Birds and nature (1905) (14775476093).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature21905chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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ement that heis at the old rendezvous—a rendezvousthat has perhaps served them for morethan one season, and a place that intime becomes so fraught with delightfulassociations that even in autumn orwinter the male, when he finds himseltin the vicinity, can not resist the tempta-tion to mount his wonted perch andvent his feelings in the rolling drum-beat that was in springtime his song otlove. While it is the belief of most of theornithologists of the present day thatthe drumming sound is produced bythe rapid beating of the air with thewings, there are, and have been, othertheories as to the cause of the sound.Some say that the Grouse producesthe sound by striking its wings togetherover its back; others say that it strikesthe sides of its body and still others,among them most woodsmen, that itstrikes the log upon which it is perched.Whatever the cause of the sounds, thewings are moved slowly at first and thespeed is gradually increased until suchrapid movement is obtained that the eye
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5i) Kf I ll<,l) (iKOlSl. (lionasa nmlxlliis). ii Lifcsi/t<. cannot follow the wings and there is ahaze-like appearance where they shouldbe. The male Grouse cares but littlefor his mate after she begins the dutiesof incubation, and by some authoritieshe is believed to be polygamous. Thisidea, however, was doubted by MajorBendire. They have been seen in thecompany of several females and it isknown that if they do not attract thenotice of a female in one place theywill seek another drumming site whichmay be either a fallen, mossy log, an oldstump, a rock, or even a slight elevationof ground. Major Bendire believed thatthe drumming was performed as a signof bodily vigor and to notify the femaleof his whereabouts. Sometimes a rivalmale appears and there is a royafrough-and-tumble fight which oftenresults in the loss of feathers and thedrawing of blood. Deserted by her mate when the periodof incubation is near at hand, the motherGrouse seeks a place to nest. She selectsa secluded spot

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