294 GENERAL HABITS 



grouse, where the chicks leave the nest within a few hours after hatching. They must be shown 

 suitable sources of food; they must be protected during adverse weather; they must be taught 

 how to avoid the many dangers constantly threatening them. Since the male grouse takes no 

 part in reproduction beyond the mating stage, this task devolves upon the female. 



During the period prior to flying, the chicks travel in a loosely-knit group with the female, 

 seldom straying more than ten or 15 feet from her. j\t this time she maintains a considerable 

 degree of discipline over them by means of a variety of calls and warnings. Many times broods 

 of this age have been observed crossing country roads with the female in the tniddle of the 

 highway and the chicks strung out in more or less single file from one ditch to the other. Yet 

 among broods held in large natural enclosures the chicks often seemed to lead the hen, spread 

 out fan-wise before her. 



With respect to feeding, the female .seems merely to guide them through good feeding terri- 

 tory and, by example, to indicate choice foods. She apparently does not scratch for them; 

 neither does she feed them directlv. When danger threatens, she warns the chicks to hide and 

 keeps them quiet until the cause for alarm has passed. 



As the chicks become older, they more and more assert their independence, and the degree 

 of guidance from the female diminishes. As her control over them lessens, the group ranges 

 farther and farther afield. Hand in hand with this, an increase occurs in the juvenile mortal- 

 ity rate, which has largely leveled off following its initial precipitousness of the first three 

 weeks. But, by fall, the survivors have acquired the ability to take care of themselves and the 

 female's responsibility has been fulfilled. 



CHARACTERISTIC OF THE RROOD 



The chicks, too, even though indulging in activities common to the adults, exhibit certain 

 distinctive characteristics. 



Area Traversed 



From the time of leaving the nest until they break up in the fall, broods range to varying 

 degrees in quest of the necessities of life. There is nothing, however, to indicate that juvenile 

 grouse recognize territorial limits in the sense that this term has been applied to the adults. 

 Nevertheless, the area covered undoubtedly reflects the nature of the female's territory as well 

 as her individuality. 



It is impractical to attempt to follow grouse broods from day to day. Yet it has been possi- 

 ble to contact most broods from two to four times a month, during the summer, on the study 

 areas. In this way. a reasonable estimate of the extent of their wanderings can be made. The 

 identity of individual broods can usually be determined on the basis of location of contact, 

 runnber of other broods in vicinity, number of chicks, age of chicks, habitual actions of 

 female and artificial markings of female. Unless the female is marked, however, contacts of 

 broods which have traveled unusual distances will often be incorrectly diagnosed. 



Brood "territories" estimated in this way have varied considerably in both size and extent. 

 They have ranged from between five and ten acres to over 100 acres and from relatively com- 

 pact imits to narrow, much elongated tracts. In 10.^1. the distance between the extreme points 

 visited by Brood l.S-I was estimated at 3.76.5 feet. Many others have reached points over half 

 a mile from where thev started. Nevertheless, the majority confine their activities to areas of 

 between one-eighth and one-quarter mile in extent. 



