262 



GENERAL HABITS 



bility, but when with the brood, especially during the first few weeks following hatching, she 

 is often remarkably bold and aggressive. 



Throughout the present Investigation, the majority of the grouse contacted have flushed 

 within 50 feet of the observer. Over the fall, winter and spring period. 72.0 per cent of the 

 flushes recorded have been in this zone, while during the summer, this proportion has increased 

 to 87.4 per cent. Grouse generally flush much wilder in windv weather, however. 



Stratagems 



^XTien trying to avoid detection, the grouse resorts to a variety of stratagems. The one 

 practiced most commonly, perhaps, is to "freeze". If the intruder does not approach too 

 close and continues on his way, the bird "sits tight"; otherwise, especially if one pauses in the 

 near vicinity, it usually flushes. Sometimes, it will wait until passed by and then flush in the 

 opposite direction, or again one will endeavor to sneak off by running. In hunting with a dog 

 one frequently finds that a bird, upon becoming aware of the intruder, has run to the oppo- 

 site side of some screening shrub or other obstacle before flushing. The apparent tendency 

 for birds to dodge behind a tree or bush immediately after being jumped seems, in reality, 

 to be most often accomplished in this way. 



An anonymous writer in Forest and Stream"" found one hiding in a hollow stump and a 

 wounded bird was found by one of the authors to have taken refuge in a woodrhuck hole. 

 On another occasion, J. V. Skiff. Deputy Commissioner of this Department, witnessed a 

 grouse being pursued in the open by a goshawk. The bird flew directly into a thick pine tree 

 successfully evading the hawk, but seemed to fall to the ground stunned. Yet a few moments 

 later it was found unhurt. The ultimate seems to be represented by a wounded bird which 

 submerged itself in shallow water until only its head remained above the surface. Forbush'*" 

 has reported a similar rase. Another device is for a bird, roosting in a tree, usuallv close to 

 the trunk, to draw itself up very straight and stiff with its neck upstretchcd and to remain 

 motionless in this position. Brewster's" description of this trait is especially graphic: 



"Standing stiffly erect with raised crest*, grotesquely elongated necks and tightly-com- 

 pressed body-plumage, they were easily mistaken for stout, stubby prongs where upward- 

 growing limbs had broken off, or for thick clusters of Usnea moss, or perhaps for loose 

 scales of rough bark." 



A particularly curious reaction, reported In a nuinbcr uf observers, is that of "treeing". 

 Attributed entirely to the less wary birds of the backwoods, it is said that, when flushed by 

 a dog, especially one which barks considerabh. they often merely fly into a tree and some- 

 times remain there until the hunter can come up. 



Tame Grouse 



In contrast with the usual temperanicnl of thi> bird, the rintliiig. now and tiien. of a so-called 

 tame grouse, gives a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde touch. One spring, as an observer drove up a 

 little-used woodsroad near one of the Investigation's field stations, a grouse suddenlv emerged 

 from the woods and ran beside the car. I'pon coming to a stop, it was fi>iiMd tiiat the bird 

 would remain so long as the motor was kept running but flew when it was slnit off. This bird 

 performed in nuich the same manner on several subsequent visits to the same spot. In another 

 instance, a bird. a|)parently also attracted by the automobile motor, repeatediv ran alongside 

 passing cars until caught one day in a trout landing net. Then, there was the case of "Billy 

 and the Steel Mule"'. This bird was first encountered when it undertook to display, one 

 spring, before a farm tractor. The latter, however, had to i)e running to be effective. There- 



