shelter 95 



regularly anticipated range of temperature for the time of year, 

 and the others indicate an abnormal extreme in one direction or 

 the other. Analyzed on this basis we are able to discuss numerous 

 ejffects of temperature on selection of cover by adult grouse, but it 

 should be made clear here that temperature is less important as 

 the determining element of the weather than either sky condition 

 or wind. 



During the fall and winter, especially in the winter, there are more 

 shifts from the normal in cover type use as a result of temperature 

 extremes than at any other season. Most significant are a high-use 

 rate of overgrown land in warm weather and an avoidance of slash- 

 ings, and an increased use of hardwood woodland and coniferous 

 woods in cold weather. The increase in use of hardwood stands on 

 cold days is mainly in the autumn, that of conifers in the winter. 

 Also important are the complementary effects— an avoidance of 

 brushland in cold weather, and of hardwoods and conifer woods 

 in warm days. 



In the spring, the tendency to deviate from average habits under 

 extremes of temperatures is less pronounced than in the winter. Par- 

 ticularly significant at this season, however, is the marked avoidance 

 of hardwood stands on cold days, and of coniferous woods when it 

 is warm. Peculiarly enough, mixed woodlands are selected more 

 than normal under both extremes, hot days and cold. Hardwood 

 stands are used intensively in warm weather too, while slashings 

 seem to attract most in cold weather, and less than normal in warm 

 weather. 



During the summer, deviations from average are less than at other 

 seasons. Most important is a clear trend to the use of coniferous 

 cover on hot days (the opposite trend is true in winter), and a 

 corresponding avoidance of hardwood stands. Of some significance 

 is the greater-than-average use of slashings in warm weather and of 

 mixed woods when it is cold. 



Thus, the other things being equal, the selection of cover type 

 is considerably affected by temperatures. But it may be repeated 

 that temperature is less important as a determining element than 

 wind and sky conditions. 



Relation of Sky Condition to Cover Used. The condition of the sky 

 plays a very important part in determining what cover a grouse will 



