GENERAL HABITS 



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PILE OF WliNTER DKOPPINCS SHOWING WHERE GROUSE HAD ROOSTED 0.\ THE GROLND 



FOR SEVERAL HOURS 



Although groups of several adults often roost in the same clump of cover, no tendency to 

 form packs or coveys has been noted. While more than one bird may occu|)y the same tree, 

 each is an independent individual. 



Snow Roosting 



Like the Eskimo in his igloo, the grouse may seek shelter during severe weather by burrow- 

 ing into the snow. The impulse to do this seems largely correlated with marked drops in 

 temperature or with high wind, although the presence of light, soft snow of sudicient depth is, 

 of course, necessary. Forbush" also states that ground-roosting birds are at times completely 

 covered by snow during a storm, thus creating the impression that they had burrowed into 

 it. The habit has been observed throughout the range of the bird wherever heavy snowfall 

 occurs. It is more ])revalent northward only because the necessary conditions are present 

 more often. 



In New York, this habit is frequently employed at night during the winti r. Init the birds 

 come out in the morning unless the weather is very severe. Individuals may. however, re- 

 main in such a shelter several days, as evidenced by the number of driii)pings found in some 

 burrows. During the (hntirric thev seldom resort to the practice unless the weather is very 

 sharp and windy. 



When conditions are right, grou.-c ino.-t often di\c licmi an (i\criu'ail luancli oi. sometimes. 

 even directly from (light. Such a plunge is made at an olili(|ii(' angle and carries the bird below 

 the surface where a small space is hollowed out. often a foot or two from the entrance, if the 

 while mantle is deep and soft. At other times, partiiularly if the snow depth is insuflicient 

 to permit diving, the bird ma> walk In the chosen >\n>\ and burrow under the surface. Roosts 

 of this type have been foiini! in snow only four inches deep, although this is unusual. 



The chamber formed |i\ ihc bird is slishtlv larger than its bodv and is seldom more than 



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