192 The Ruifed Grouse 



was otherwise normal. April was abnormal only in being short in smi- 

 shine, while May was deficient in both sunshine and temperature. 

 Precipitation in June was five and eight-tenths inches, which is very 

 high; temperatures were low throughout, especially in the first half 

 of the month. 



The most recent major die-off in New York took place in 1927, but 

 apparently began in 1926. This two-year period shows essentially 

 the same weather characteristics from late winter to early summer 

 as those just discussed. Snowfall in February 1926 exceeded twenty- 

 five inches, far above average, and was followed by March tempera- 

 tures that were some five degrees below noiTnal. The other mani- 

 festations of the winter weather were about typical. The April tem- 

 perature mean was thirty-nine and five-tenths degrees, the same as 

 in 1907, both the lowest on record. This cold weather continued 

 through May, but to a less abnormal degree, then in June maintained 

 an unfavorable spring record with a mean of sixty and eight-tenths 

 degrees, the same as in 1916, and next to lowest on record. Other 

 conditions were not adverse. 



The winter and early spring periods in 1927 were average, except 

 for a small excess of snow in February. In May, however, tempera- 

 tures were low, rainfall high, and sunshine very much below normal. 

 Following this came another cold June, though not as bad as the 

 year before. The precipitation and sunshine factors in this June 

 were good. 



Before examining the weather situation accompanying the minor 

 periods of decline, we may take note of the elements common to the 

 four occasions just discussed. In all, there was a condition of late 

 winter weather severity, with heavy snow and unusually extreme 

 cold. Likewise there was a cold June; only in 1906-07 were June 

 temperatures not extreme; in 1907 both April and May, as well as 

 June, had low thermal records. 



The minor decline of 1904 was attended by extremely low Febru- 

 ary and April temperatures, and March too was colder than usual. 

 Conditions through other parts of the winter and spring were not 

 severely adverse. It may well be that the very low June temperature 

 and high rainfall in 1903, together with lack of sunshine, contributed 

 to this drop in grouse numbers. 



Another intermediate decrease occurred in 1924. Then the weather 

 record was mostly orthodox but with some extremes. There was 



