PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE RUFFED GROUSE 



755 



In another part of the experiment five apparently healthy grouse were subjected to similar 

 rainfall at an air temperature of 62°F. and an air movement of 15 miles per hour. Figure 

 87 shows that only two of the test birds (Nos. 8 and 29) withstood this treatment and sur- 



•F. 



loe 



106 



tr 



D 

 H 

 < 



Q. 



5 

 u 

 H 

 _j 100 



< 



I- 

 o 

 tu 

 o: 9a 



96 



94 



40 60 80 100 120 140 160 



DURATION OF TEST IN MINUTES 



riGlIRK 87. TRENDS IN RECTAL TEMPER\TIRE FOLLOW I.\(. WETTLNU AMONG DISEASED AS COM- 

 PARED WITH HEALTHY ADULT GROUSE 



vived, whereas grouse No. 13 died within four hours after the completion of the test, its 

 body temperature falling to a very low level. Grouse No. 37 died two days after the test 

 and grouse No. 21, three days after its completion. Postmortem examinations indicated that 

 all three of these birds were suffering from enteric disease*, although prior to the test they 

 appeared healthy. These data indicate that pathological conditions such as enteritis or in- 

 testinal gout when latent or inactive in the body of a grouse can he activated by a drop in 

 body temperature as a result of wetting the body with water of chilling temperature. 



Heart Activity as an Index of Vitality 



Experiment 5 consisted of a series of tests to determine the significance of heart activity 

 as an index of vitality. To begin with, a general study was undertaken of the relationship 

 between body temperature, respiration and heart rate in relation to activity, inactivity and 

 emotional excitement. Grouse in different groups were held inactive from IV2 to 2-^$ hours. 



* Diagnosed by ConBervdiion Palhologisl, Dr. Frans C. Coble at the \('ildlife Research Center. Delmar. New York. 



