272 



GENERAL HABITS 



Tlie material utilized for this ])ur|)()se is varied, the primary requisite beiri": looseness and 

 dryness. The dry. rotten wood of old stuni|js and lops seems to lie most frequenth used with 





^-V-- 



TYPICAL GROUSE Dl!ST HATH BKSIDK STUMP 



fine, dry earth a close second. Another favorite situation is the dry dufT in a slashing whirh 

 IkkI |jreviously been occupied by coniferous timber. Ant hills are very often selected as sites 

 for dust baths, as are also the entrances to abandoned woodchuck holes and fox dens. In the 

 northern part of the Slate, fine sand is commonly favored. Leaf mold is very seldom used as 

 it is coarse and usualK damp, except in slashings. SimilarK. sawdust piles are rarelv satis- 

 factor\ . 



\i)\i>T\nii,ii'^ ri) (liiANCiNr; Environment 



Fossil hunlcis lia\c found bones of the rufTed firouse among material of the Pleistocene age* 

 from caves in Pennsylvania. California, Maryland and Tennessee, as well as remains probably 

 referable to this species from Arkansas"". That it could survive such a period of time as well 

 as occupv so extensive a range, both past and ])rescnt". indicates a high degree of ada|)ta- 

 bililv. 



Certain further observations are. however, worth citing. Being a bird of the woods edges. 



• The rioiiitiit-riir ail*' "* B<*ul"Bic time rnilrd ;il...ul jri.OIHI vpor« ni;.t ami i* r-limiitril in luiv 



million year*. 

 A Srr Cliaplrr II. p. 18. 



vfrcti n |M>rinil t»l a|i|iroxiiiiali-ly n 



