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less. Often the nest is sheltered under lo{,', 

 stump, or tree, sometimes near the den of the 

 fox, often near that of the skunk ; hut these 

 prowlers seem to find it only if they fall upon it 

 by accident, thus starting the bird, or if they see 

 her enter or leave it. When the fox blunders on 

 her retreat she bristles u]) and flies directly at 

 his head. This startles him but does not divert 

 him and his mouth is soon full of scrambled eggs. 

 The little ones with their pipings and flutter- 

 ings would not long be safe in their lowly nest 

 and so they leave it as soon as the natal down 

 is dry and thenceforth become wanderers on the 

 face of the earth. They do not stray far from 



or jumping and lluttering up to the overhanging 

 foliage in search of their elusive prey, while the 

 mother follows, watchful for any enemy that may 

 be ui)on the trail. In about a week from the time 

 they leave the egg the chicks can use their wings 

 and within three weeks, though still no larger 

 than very small chickens, they have learned to 

 fly considerable distances and to rise quite high 

 in air. 



As their feathers grow they learn first to sleep 

 on the ground in a circle about the mother and 

 next to roost in shrubs and trees. As the sum- 

 mer wanes the growing birds make dusting places 

 in dry spots along wood roads or southerly hill- 



l'Ujtui;r.>l'ii uy H. K. Job 



Cuurtcsy uf Uuting Publishing Co. 



RUPFED GROUSE ON NEST 



the neighborhood, but patter about day by day, 

 and gather under the mother's wings wherever 

 night overtakes them. She is ready to defend 

 them with her life, if need be, or to entice away 

 any enemy by crying and fluttering in the path 

 like a wounded bird. This ruse often is success- 

 ful with a boy or a dog, but does not deceive 

 Reynard, who quietly retires, lies down to await 

 the mother's return, and, when the chicks rise 

 from their concealment at her call, springs among 

 the frightened brood and marks one for his own. 

 In feeding, the little ones scatter through the 

 woods, searching for insects on the forest floor 



sides where they wallow and dust their feathers 

 in the manner of a domestic fowl, to free them- 

 selves of para.-^ites. 



When autumn comes they are nearly full- 

 grown but their numbers have decreased about 

 one-half as they have many enemies. Now they 

 visit the wild apple trees and grape vines or 

 search for beechnuts and acorns among the 

 fallen leaves. About the middle of October they 

 begin to wander about and often are found dead 

 in queer places where they have flown against 

 some obstacle such as a high wire fence or the 

 side of a building. This is the unexplained 



