HUDSONIAN SPRUCE GROUSE 127 



in the trees. I saw but few tracks on the snow all winter, though 

 in the fall their tracks were numerous on the sand-dunes and among 

 willows along the river." According to A. Leith Adams (1873), 

 they do not dive under the snow like the ruffed grouse. Lucien M. 

 Turner says: "I have reason to suspect that some of these birds 

 retain their mates for more than one season as I have frequently 

 found a pair together in the depth of winter and these two being 

 the only ones of the kind to be found in the vicinity." Audubon 

 (1840) says that "the males leave the females whenever incubation 

 has commenced, and do not join them again until late in autumn; 

 indeed they remove to different woods, where they are more shy 

 and wary than during the love season or in winter." He also im- 

 parts the following curious information : 



All the species of this genus indicate the approach of rainy weather or a 

 snow storm, with far more precision than the best barometer; for on the 

 afternoon previous to such weather, they all resort to their roosting places 

 earlier by several hours than they do during a continuation of fine weather. 

 I have seen groups of grouse flying up to their roosts at mid-day, or as soon 

 as the weather felt heavy, and have observed that it generally rained in the 

 course of the afternoon. When, on the contrary, the same flock would remain 

 busily engaged in search of food until sunset, I found the night and the follow- 

 ing morning fresh and clear. 



D. G.Elliot (1897) says: 



The spruce grouse is found usually in small flocks consisting generally of one 

 family, but also old males are met with alone, and I have always regarded it 

 as a bird that was rather fond of solitude. Frequently, even in autumn, when 

 the nights were becoming frosty, and snow flurries would hide the sun by day, 

 heralding the coming winter, I have seen an old male, in the recesses of a 

 swamp, strut about with ruffled feathers and trailing wings, as if the air were 

 balmy and mild and spring were at hand. 



Tales are told of immense numbers of these birds collecting in great 

 flocks, or " packs," but such collections have probably not occurred 

 for many years. 



Voice. — The spruce grouse is a silent bird except when disturbed. 

 His courtship " song " is instrumental, made by the rapid " drum- 

 ming " of the wings striking the air as already described. I have 

 heard slight clucking sounds from } r oung birds and somewhat similar 

 duckings from adult males. Adult females when disturbed cluck 

 incessantly, a sound described by Mr. Bent as " kruk, kruk, kruk, 

 with an occasional rolling note like km^rrruk, soft and low." Street 

 says : " The only note that the grouse uttered at any time was a low 

 chuck chuck upon the occasion of her first leaving the nest." For- 

 bush (1927) records the voice of the immature male as " a low 

 wailing whistle, weeo-weeo-weeo? 



