“What’s that?” demanded Ed, stopping to listen.
“That? That’s our friend the grouse again, only this time he’s drumming,” replied Ben.
“Drumming!” exclaimed the boys, in unison.
GROUSE DRUMMING ON A LOG
“Yes, that’s what we call it. He wins his mate that way in the spring. Sometimes on a nice day, like this, in the fall, he comes to a warm, sunny spot in the woods and starts drumming, just like it was spring again.”
“How does he do it?” inquired George, as the hollow, booming roll came from the deep, silent woods.
“Why, he stands on a log, or rock, and beats the air with his wings.”
Ben knelt down and imitated the sound by pounding the ground with his closed fist.
“When a grouse is drumming like that, you can walk right up to him. All you need do is to get his direction, and then hurry toward him while he’s busy drumming. As soon as he stops, or a little sooner, you must remain perfectly still. Then, when he drums again, move on, until you come in sight of him.”