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GENERAL HABITS 



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iNTKRBREEDINr. 



Oiih om- iuitheiiticatecl instance of the interbreeding of a grouse witli another species has 

 come to our attention. In 1930. a grouse was killed in western New York whose tail fea- 

 thers showed definite characters of both the grouse and the pheasant. The skin of this bird 

 has been examined and shows every indication of being a genuine hybrid. 



Other instances, from New York State, of crosses with the pheasant have been reported to 

 the Investigation, but the proof is lacking. Also, a writer in Forest and Stream^'' reported 

 one of his hens hatched a brood whose heads and necks resembled grouse. 



Fighting 



Fighting among wild grouse is very rarely observed and the circumstances surrounding its 

 occurrence under natural conditions are accordingly obscure. Nevertheless, observation of 

 hand-reared birds has revealed many points in the behavior pattern associated with it. It 

 has demonstrated that grouse of all ages are subject to very pronounced superiority and in- 

 feriority complexes and that vigorous birds, regardless of sex. feel constantly impelled to dom- 

 inate weaker individuals. Among birds artificially reared at the Research Center, fighting 

 has been noted at all ages from chicks scarcely a week old on. Furthermore, it may take 

 place at any time, although it is most prevalent during the breeding season and among the 

 voung birds in the fall of the year. Its purpose, therefore, seems to be two-fold. First, 

 it represents one means of establishing and maintaining a bird's rank in the social scale of 

 its group (i.e. social order)'' and. second, it serves in settling disputes between individuals. 



Display, however, has no definite relationship to it. lndi\iduals will fight "at the drop 

 of a hat", with no preliminaries. And a bird, which happens to be displaying when a fight 

 is forced upon it. has been seen to drop its feathers, engage the assailant and then, if \ictor- 

 ious, resume the display. 



The attitude usually assumed by a fighting bird is one in wliicii tiic feathers arc held close 

 to the body, the tail is folded and dropped, and the neck and head are lowered and outstretched. 

 It has been apth likened to the profile of a dinosaur. By approaching its o|)poMCMl in this 

 manner, it ajtparentK tries to gel under the other s guard. If the challenged binl "picks up 

 the gauntlet", it. too. assumes a similar attitude and both birds, as thc\ conic into close quar- 

 ters, circle around. s|)arring with their heads and endca\i)ring to peck one another. As 

 the battle progresses, the) often raise up until, with upslrctchcd necks, they stand "toe-to- 

 toe" or continue to circle, pecking with their beaks and biilTctiiig each other with their 

 wings. Occasionally the feet are used in such cond)ats. 



An attacked bird may either attempt to elude its persecutor 1)\ running or lining, or stand 

 its ground and fight back. In the latter circumstance, injury is seldom inflicted if the birds 

 are evenly matched and the bout ends shortly by one of the participatits rumiing or by a termi- 

 nation of aggression on both sides. If. however, one bird capitulates, the other follows up its 

 advanliige by pecking it alioiit the head and further subjugating it. In contincnicnt. such a 

 bird becomes the victim of attack \<\ all the other birds present which rank above it in the 

 social scale of the group. At the same time, it ina\ still retain its domiiiani-e o\er individuals 

 rankini: below it. 



rhopif-r n. T'- '>'■ 



-SWW^^T- 



