s having often called them within shot by imitating the sound.
This he accomplished by beating a large inflated bullock's bladder
with a stick, keeping up as much as possible the same time as that in
which the bird beats. At the sound produced by the bladder and the
stick, the male grouse, inflamed with jealousy, has flown directly
toward him, when, being prepared beforehand, he has easily shot it.
When flushed, the pheasant flies with great vigor through the woods,
beyond the reach of view, springing up at first within a few yards,
with a loud whirring noise. Noticing this peculiarity of flight, Mr.
Audubon states that when this bird rises from the ground at a time
when pursued by an enemy, or tracked by a dog, it produces a loud
whirring sound resembling that of the whole tribe, excepting the
black-cock of Europe, which has less of it than any other species. The
whirring sound is never heard when the grouse rises of its own accord,
for the purpose of removing from one place to another; nor, in similar
circumstances, is it commonly produced by our little partridge. "In
fact," he continues, "I do not believe that it is emitted by any
species of grouse, unless when surprised and forced to rise. I have
often been lying on the ground in the woods or the fields, for hours
at a time, for the express purpose of observing the movements and
habits of different birds, and have frequently seen a partridge or a
grouse rise on wing within a few yards of the spot where I lay,
unobserved by them, as gently and softly as any other bird, and
without producing any whirring sound. Nor even when this grouse
ascends to the top of a tree does it make any greater noise than other
birds of the same size would do."

With a good dog, pheasants are easily found, and what is singular,
they will look down upon him from the branches of a tree, where they
sit, apparently stupefied, not attempting to fly, but allowing
themselves to be shot one by one until all are killed. Should one of
those on the higher branches, however, be shot first, the sight of his
fall will cause an immediate flight. A figure 4 trap is used with
success in taking them, especially when deep snow lies on the ground.
They were formerly numerous in the immediate vicinity of Philadelphia,
but the advances of the agriculturist have led them to retreat to the
interior, and but a very few can be now found within several miles.
The pheasant is in the best order in September and Octobe