COMMON TO BOTH SEXES 251 



snow, often so close together that they almost tread upon one another, flanked by deep-cut 

 parallel marks. Produced by the drooping wings of the strutting cock, these are truly a har- 

 binger of spring, for they usher in the breeding season which lasts well into early summer. 



Much of the early spring pattern, described by Howard"' for certain British birds, finds 

 its counterpart in the actions of the male ruffed grouse at this time. He occupies a conspic- 

 uous position — the drumming log, drums rather than sings and becomes aggressive in defense 

 of that portion of his territory encompassing his drumming sites. True, males may be heard 

 drumming to some extent every month of the year, but the frequency now is increased until, 

 by mid-April in New York, upwards to half of the day and night may often be spent on or 

 in the immediate vicinity of such logs. Gone are the winter roosting concentrations, though 

 there may still be many lapses back to the former routine, particularly if the weather be 

 cold and stormy. 



The female, also, is affected by the change in the ])hysi(al world about her. Though she 

 minds her own business without seeming to take too much notice of the male, she will be 

 found with increasing frequency in the vicinity of drumming logs. Perhaps her actions may 

 best be characterized as an independent awareness of the presence of the male. One may 

 even postulate that she enjoys the excitation in the latter which her proximity evidently pro- 

 duces. Yet she is quiet about it all, exhibiting little outward sign of her emotions. 



From the above, but not substantiated by actual observation, one may conjecture that mat- 

 ing takes place on one of these visits at a time when the reproductive rhythms of the two 

 birds are synchronized. In captivity, at least, one mating connnonly serves to fertilize a clutch, 

 perhaps explaining why the female appears to lose interest rapidly after the act. Thereafter 

 she spends but little time in the immediate vicinity of the drumming territory. 



The male continues to display and drum, possibly in hope of attracting the same or other 

 females. By the middle of May or the first of June, however, his reaction is definitely on 

 the wane and an increasing amount of time is spent in other parts of his territory. In early 

 morning and late afternoon, he may make it a point to \ isil one or another of his drununing 

 sites. Occasionally, throughout the day also, as he finds himself in the vicinity, he may strut 

 or drum. But these instances become less and less frequent until, by mid-June, most of his time 

 is occupied by a summer routine of feeding, dusting, sunning and sleeping. 



No such leisurely existence can be enjoyed by the female, however, who must incubate her 

 eggs and raise her brood. Once her clutch is complete, she pays but little attention to the 

 male. After the chicks have hatched, she guides her brood wherever fancy or necessity dic- 

 tates, frequently passing through the territories of other grouse in her wanderings. Her reac- 

 tions apparently revolve around fulfilling the requirements of the brood until she is relieved 

 of that responsibility following the fall dispersal period. 



During late sunnner, both adults must renew their feathers through moulting. Although 

 they at no time become flightless, the birds, at this season, tend to be much more secluded 

 in their habits. The young birds also begin to acquire their mature plumage at this time 

 although it is not completed until somewhat later. 



COMMON TO BOTH SEXES 



With the general pattern of activity in mind, the principal component habits and charac- 

 teristics of the birds may be individually discussed in greater detail. Considering first those 

 common to both sexes, a logical starting point is mobility. 



