288 GENERAL HABITS 



I'eiinsylvania"'. in one of whiili llie bird is said to have fought the ilames with her wings. 



A curious activity of the female during this season is related by Allen'", who found the ap- 

 proach of nest building to be "first indicated by feeble attempts at tossing leaves over her 

 shoulder onto her back as she sits or even as she walks". The same author continues as follows: 



"The leaf-throwing continues during the egg laying period and for several days after 

 incubation starts, so that at first she sits with her back mure or less com[)letely covered. 

 This doubtless account.-, fur the differences noted in the covering of the eggs with leaves 

 amongst wild birds." 



No indications have been found that grouse inlt'ntionali\ (d\cr their eggs when leaving the 

 nest. The popular belief that they do has apparently originated either from the habit noted 

 above or because a bird flushed from her nest will, now and then, stir up the leaves so that some 

 settle over it. 



The attachment of the female for her nest and her fearlessness in attempting to protect it 

 and the subsequent brood from harm represent one of the best recognized habits of the species. 

 Not only does she sit so close that it is occasionally possible to touch her before she will stir, 

 but when finally flushed she often flies only a few feet, then tumbles to the ground and attempts 

 to lure the intruder away by feigning severe injury, often accompanied by distressing whines. 

 Pretending to have a broken wing, she half hobbles, half flutters, along the ground. If the in- 

 truder is deceived and follows, she keeps just ahead until a distance of some fifteen to twenty 

 yards has been covered when she suddenly regains her power of flight and departs. Otherwise, 

 she usually remains in the vicinity, fussing and clucking, or she may even attack certain |)red- 

 ators as in the lase of a black snake as reported in the PennsvKania Game iSews'"". 



This "broodiness", however, usually develops gradually. primariK during the latter part of 

 the incubation period and does not become pronounced until a few days before the eggs hatch. 

 But, in a few instances, a tendency in this direction has been noted early in the second week 

 and, in one case, a slight attenijit to distract the observer was made by a bird which had still 

 to lay the final eggs of a clutch of fourteen. 



Incubation in this species iiormalK requires a|)pr()ximately 21- days, varying between 23 

 and 24. a determination which has been amply verified under game farm conditions. In the 

 wild, however, development sometimes takes several days longer, low^ temperatures or absence 

 of the female from tlic nest ;i|i|i;ucmi1\ being tlie primary factors responsible for diflerences 

 which occur. 



During this |)crio(l. tin' bir<l must, of course, sit on her cgg> most of the time. On the other 

 hand, she nuist also feed. In order to secure some idea of tlic d;iil\ routine of nesting birds 

 during this time, two nests on the Coiuicctiiut Hill area were watched for >e\('ral days from 

 tree blinds during June, 1932, shortly before they were due to hatch. These birds sal continu- 

 ously except for infrequent brief periods of absence, presumably to feed. These recesses usu- 

 ally consumed from 20 to 40 miiiules. although on one occasion, the bird remained awav 110 

 minutes. Over a period of three days i following which the nest was broken up I the first bird 

 left to feed each evening between 5:30 and 7:30. In addilion. she also icfl for 'M\ minutes 

 between 4:00 a. m. and .S:00 a. m. on the third da\. llic sei'ond bird was also observed for 

 three days, following which the clutch hatched. The first day was stormy and the female was 





