264 GENERAL HABITS 



fed by hand. One of the most common relates to the attraction of a wood-cutter's chopping for 

 certain birds. One winter, while thinning a stand of voung cedars near Essex, N. Y.. Mr. J. 

 R. Burnham noticed a grouse nearby which seemed completely undisturbed, either by his pres- 

 ence or bv the sound of the chopping. Thereafter, for several weeks, this bird would appear 

 each morning shortK after he had begun to chop and remain in the vicinity all dav, often 

 hopping up on the log beside him while he ate lunch. And when he left at night, the bird 

 would follow hini to the car and then fly alongside for a short distance down the road. 



A quite similar experience is related in the story of "Biddy" of Delaware County (N.Y.)\ 

 After having made friends with a group of woodchoppers during the winter, this bird could 

 be called throughout the spring and summer by simply "striking two sticks together" and, on 

 one occasion, is said to have joined a family picnic in the woods and eaten a dish of rasp- 

 berries**. 



Just what the psychological motivation of such reactions may be. one can only guess. Un- 

 doubtedly, the sound of an automobile or tractor motor suggests the drumming of a rival 

 but what associations are inspired by the staccato ring of an axe, remains a mystery. 



Feeding Habits 



The grouse is primarily a ground bird and its food throughout the greater portion of the 

 year is largely obtained either from the forest floor itself or from the lower stratum of shrubs 

 and bushes. Nevertheless, the birds are not averse to feeding at higher levels to secure the 

 fruits of many trees and larger shrubs, when available. Furthermore, when budding during 

 the winter, they commonly frequent the tops of large forest trees. So wide a variety of both 

 vegetable and animal foods are taken that the species may be said to be to a considerable 

 extent omnivorous.* 



Actions 



In general, grouse are constantly on the move while feeding although, when budding in the 

 winter or feeding on fruits in the fall, they may remain for some time in one tree or shrub. 

 In securing food from amongst the ground litter, these birds prefer to i)ick out what items 

 they can as they move along without resorting to scratching as chickens and jiheasants com- 

 monly do. In this connection, no evidence has been found to sujiptjrt the statement of Grin- 

 nell'"° that "when the snow is not too deep, they scratch for food overlooked in autumn", 

 or that of Forbush"" that the old birds are "persistent scratchers". When feeding on insects in 

 the early summer along woods edges, trails and roads, or later on berries in the slashes and 

 burns, they frequently junij) from the ground with neck outstretched and often aided by a 

 stroke or two of the wings in order to secure items slightly out of easy reach. Another habit 

 is to pick up ants which often abound in the material chosen for dust baths. 



An excellent account of their actions while budding in an ap|)le tree is given by Brewster", 

 which is quoted in part : 



'■| ( iiiiiilid 11(1 less than nine m atlcicd all oxer the tree, a few being low down on stout 

 limbs close to its main trunk and hciic-c inc(>iis|iicn(ius. but the greater number near the 

 ends of its longer upper iiranches. where tlie\ could be jilairiK seen, while one or two 

 were perched on the very topmost twigs. boKIK outliiu'd against the grey sky and looking 

 as bic as hen-hawks. The\ were busily engaged in budding . . . At times, howi-yer. they 

 UDiild all stand creel and motionless for a few monients. <'\idciitl\ looking and listening 

 inlenth . Those feeding near the ends of long and slender branches had some difTiculty in 



• Src Cllninii l\ . |.. I'll. 



