THE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE 243 



it by burrowing in the fluffy snow. By so doing 

 he holds his own with the coyote, fox, weasel, 

 Ijnix, and owl, all of which hunt him at night. 

 The owl simply cannot find him when so hidden ; 

 and keen-scented as are these other foes, it is al- 

 most too much for them to locate the sleeping 

 quarry closely enough for a sure spring upon 

 him, without disturbing him prematurely and 

 sending him bursting away to safety. Not only 

 does the sharp-tail spend the night so hidden, but 

 at mid-day on the coldest days, when the sun is 

 shining, he takes his siesta in the same manner. 

 By so doing he escapes, also, the sudden on- 

 slaught of the goshawk that comes whirling 

 along, bent on murder. 



In making his bed, this grouse does not seem 

 to have hit upon the trick of his ruffed relative of 

 the woods — that of diving into the soft snow. 

 The sharp-tail merely scratches and kicks and 

 flutters till he gets himself covered, then works 

 along horizontally for several feet, usually clos- 

 ing the hole after him as he burrows. Such a bed 

 has other advantages than that of protection 

 from his foes. It is a snug nest for this hot- 

 blooded fellow, and there is no doubt that he 

 sleeps warmly. As a rule there is no large air 



