THE SOOTY GROUSE. 



575 



males are infrequent, and there is no great disparity in numljers between the 

 sexes, so that tlie male, oftener than otherwise, mates but once during a season. 

 At least he is not known to carry on his amotu's abreast. When the female 

 has laid her complement of eggs, from six to nine, in a shallow, leaf-lined de- 

 pression at the base of a tree, bush, or rock, the male joins himself to a small 

 company of his widowed fellows, or else sulks out the season in ineffectual 

 hooting. 



In chriosing a nc-;ting site the female is not at especial pains U:> find con- 



1 (il:cn iiciiy TiWc 



I'hotu by D.r.^-suu mid Baltics. 



SOOTV CROUSt; 0.\ NEST. 



AN EXAMPLE dp PROTECTIVE HARMONY. 



cealment. relying rather upon the protecti\-e harmony of her surroundings, — 

 how securely may be noted in the accompanying illustration, where the cover 

 was of the slightest, \-et perfectly in keeping. The bird exen sits with half- 

 closed lids, in order tliat the glint of the eye, the "high light." niav not betrav 

 her presence. 



The creamy buff eggs, also, with their light br<iwn spots and splashes, are 

 comparati\'ely inconspicuous when exposed. In this connection it tnay be well 

 to note a claim advanced by D. E. Brown that eggs are occasionally unmarked 



