576 



THE SOOTY GROUSE. 



anil pure while. 

 1 Ic- has sliinvn us 

 an c.il;',^' taken from 

 ihe hird l)y a 

 Nuoksack X'alley 

 rancher, on the 

 J4ih II f M a y. 

 1905. wliicli is of 

 a i)ale creamy tint, 

 unmarked. An- 

 iitlier rancher in 

 the same neigh- 

 horliood secured 

 an egg tmder like 

 circumstances, and 

 a f t e r m akin g 

 search in the vi- 

 cinity, discovered 

 a nest containing 

 eight eggs. all 

 pitrc white and 

 exactly similar to 

 t he one taken 

 from the oviduct 

 of the bird. 



The chicks are 

 brought off after 

 a three weeks' 

 \- i g i 1 and the 

 mother leads her 

 brood about until 

 thev are f u 11 >■ 

 grown. When sur- 

 ])rised a month 

 later, as at a dust- 

 bath, of which they are exceedingly fond, the bantlings rise to the nearest trees 

 and secrete themsehes, while the mother makes herself conspicuous in effort 

 to distract altentinn. Or. if snmewbat disci]>lineil liv bunting, the covey makes 

 off thru the air by twos and threes, endeavoring always to keep the same 

 direction, that they may speedily reassemble when out of harm's way. 



Grouse feed much at llie lower levels, and even venture intn the open in 

 late suiunier and earlv autunm. 'I'bey feed large!}- upon berries at this seasun. 



Talccn near CJiclan. Flioto by the Aulhor. 



ANOTHER STUDY IN PROTECTIVE H.-VRMONV. 



THERE AKE THREE SOOTY GROUSE CHICKS IN THIS PICTURE, BUT THE PHO- 

 TOGRAPHER HIMSELF DOES NOT KNOW THE EXACT WHEREABOUTS 

 OF .MORE THAN ONE. 



