42 THE MOTHER'S STRATAGEM. 



is always placed on the ground under a fallen 

 log, or at the foot of a bush ; and is composed of 

 a quantity of dead leaves, lined with dry grass, 

 bits of moss, and a few feathers. From ten to 

 fourteen eggs are about the average number I 

 have found ; in colour, dirty white, without any 

 spots, or freckles of darker brown. I think I 

 must have found at least ten nests in one swamp, 

 near the Spokan prairies, en route to the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



The moment they are clear of the egg, the 

 chickens leave the nest and follow the mother. 

 She calls them with a kind of clucking sound 

 just like a hen, and covers them when resting. 

 Like most of her tribe, the mother uses all kinds 

 of feints and stratagems to lure an intruder from 

 her young. I have seen an old hen ruffed grouse 

 nutter along close to my feet, as if her legs and 

 wings were entirely disabled, allowing me to 

 almost put my hand upon her ; having thus de- 

 coyed me on and on, until her chickens had time 

 to conceal themselves, she would dart suddenly 

 off, I daresay thinking how cleverly she had 

 'fooled me.' It is a curious thing that this 

 grouse when frightened rises with a loud rattling 

 noise, but when it rises of its own free will, it is 

 as noiseless as the flight of an owl. I have 

 often, when lying down watching them, seen the 



