LAND BIRDS. 225 



a large part of their food, those of clover, strawberry, buttercup, winter- 

 green, and partridge-berry predominating" (Bendire, Life Histories of 

 North American Birds, Vol. I, p. 63). 



Ordinaril}^ the Partridge roosts in trees, the covey separating somewhat 

 so that not more than two or three birds roost in any one tree. They 

 commonly select dense evergreens and perch in the thickest parts wdiere 

 they are well screened. In severe weather, after a considerable depth of 

 snow has accumulated, they frequently plunge into the snow toward 

 night and pass the entire night completely below the surface. It is com- 

 monly believed that many are killed each winter through this habit, the 

 snow freezing at the surface during the night, forming a crust so hard 

 that the bird is unable to break through in the morning; but while this may 

 happen occasionally it is not likely that many birds are thus killed. One 

 remarkable thing in connection with the life of this bird is the fact that 

 during the winter the toes become fringed with a growth of horny scales 

 or plates which serve to support it while walking on the snow. These are 

 shed again in the spring, being molted precisely like the feathers (See 

 Fig. 62). 



The drumming of the Ruffed Grouse is one of the remarkable sounds of 

 the woods, and although most commonly heard during the mating season, 

 is continued with little interruption until snow falls, and is resumed again 

 in earliest spring. The sound is produced by the male bird beating the air 

 with its wings, and some observers believe that he strikes the wings together 

 over the back, others that most of the sound is produced by the blows of 

 the wings upon the bird's sides, while still others think that a hollow log 

 is necessary for the production of the resonant tones. It seems probable, 

 however, that the blows of the wings upon the air alone are sufficient to 

 produce the sound, and the performance is believed to be the call or invita- 

 tion of the male bird to the female. 



The nest is placed on the ground, often, but by no means always, at the 

 foot of a tree or beside a log. It is merely a hollow lined with dry leaves, 

 and the sitting bird is usually in plain sight except for the protective color- 

 ation which her own plumage affords. The eggs vary in number from eight 

 to twelve, occasionally more, but more than fourteen is an unusual number. 

 Captain Bendire states that he has one reliable record of a nest with twenty- 

 three eggs, but that the average is about eleven. The eggs are nearly white, 

 varying from pure white to buffy, and are often entirely unspotted, although 

 others are more or less sprinkled with fine dots of reddish Ijrown which are 

 rarely large enough to be called spots. The eggs average 1.58 by 1.19 

 inches. 



The young run as soon as hatched and when suddenly alarmed are very 

 skilful in hiding. At such times the old bird almost always feigns lameness 

 or injury in order to draw the enemy away, but if this fails she has l:)een 

 known to fly boldly at a man or dog, sometimes even driving the latter 

 away. The male is said to forsake the female as soon as the eggs are laid 

 and apparently takes no part in caring for the young, but when these are 

 well grown the males join the coveys and remain with them until the 

 following spring. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Tail-feathers eighteen; feathers of crown somewhat elongated, forming a small crc.<;t; 



neck with a dark ruff formed by a tuft of broad black or brownish black feathers on eitiior 



side. Adult male: Top of head with many narrow cross-bars of black, rusty brown and 



sometimes white; rest of upper parts mottled rusty-brown and whitish, the scapulars, 



29 



