THE SOOTY GROUSE. 



577 



being especially fond oi the red huckleberry, or peacock Ijerry ( 1 'acciiiiiiiii 

 parvifolinui j . which they devour together with its leaves. Salal-berries are 

 also staple on Puget Sound, huckleberries in the mountains, and serv'.ce- 

 berries ( Aiiiclanchicr flurida and A. ciisickii ) east of the Cascades. This diet 

 is \'aried bv grasshoppers and other insects, as well as by seeds of many sorts. 

 Sootv Grouse lie well to a dog, but unless previously filled with the fear 

 of man, they are likely to make tame targets as they rise heavily into the near- 

 est tree, and tamer \-et as they sit and look down inquiringl_\- at the hunter. 



Tal:cu in J 'iiton'ii. 



From (I photogral^h. cof^yriglu . igo8, by IV. L. Dawson. 

 MiST .\.\D EGGS OF SOOTV GROl'SF.. 



TKE OAK-LEAF .NEST. 



The _\oung of the year, in particular, are \er\- fdolisli, allowing theniseUes to 

 be pelted repeatedlv with stones until finall\' struck and killed. This trick has . 

 earned for them, in common with other sjjecies, the name "fool hen." Mr. 

 D. E. Bn^wn sa\s the Sootv Grouse will hiss like a gander, especiall\- when 

 treed by a dog. The bird will thrust out its neck and peer down defiantly, 

 hissing and scjuirming in anger over its interrupted meal. 



Under repeated fire, the \\'ood Grouse learns not onl_\- to make away with 



