82 THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
large can be seen from a long distance for 
several years after the grouse have apparently 
deserted the locality, or been so reduced in 
numbers that they are not observed to use 
them: by the grass growing ranker, denser and 
greener; so much so that the rings are distinct- 
ly outlined against the surrounding hill. 
Formerly these rings were often seen but are 
now to a great extent ploughed up by the in- 
coming settler. 
The nesting site is soon selected, no prefer- 
ence being shown as to high or low land, so 
that it is dry and receives the Sun’s rays during 
the whole day, for I have never found a_ nest 
on the north slope of a hill. 
The nest is merely a natural depression in 
the ground, scratched into shape by the grouse, 
and slightly lined with grass and a few feathers 
plucked from the breast. By the middle of 
April 12 to 15 eggs are laid, measuring about 
1.31 x 162. Their color is light brown or 
dark cream more or less finely spotted with a 
darker brown. Some clutches are entirely 
free from markings, while other clutches have 
one or two eggs with spots, and yet other sets 
have only two or three plain eggs the remainder 
having spots more or less pronounced. In May 
the chicks are hatched and remain with the 
parent until full grown. 
The young chicks follow the mother-bird and 
get their food with her assistance from the 
second day after hatching. 
When a brood too busy feeding to take note 
of their surroundings are suddenly surprised 
the mother-bird utters one or two sharp pecu- 
liar notes, runs a few feet, suddenly takes wing 
and is soon out of sight behind tha brow of 
some neighboring hill. It now requires the 
most diligent search to locate a single chick, 
for they have scattered in all directions and hid 
If the 
observer will patiently wait a short time, the 
hen may be observed at a distance, slowly 
under convenient tufts of bunch grass. 
approaching, occasionally clucking, not venture- 
ing near, but at a distance of several rods_ will 
begin clucking and calling her young. If 
approached closely again it will be observed 
that the young giouse have found her first, and 
this will invariably be found to be the case 
when the chicks can hardly be more than three 
or four days old. Iam inclined to the belief 
from observations extending over a period of 
several years, that the male grouse sometimes 
assists in incubation and remains with his family 
throughout the summer, 
I havea record of a set of nine slightly incu- 
bated eggs found so late as June 4th. The 
bird was flushed from the nest. 
The sharp-tailed grouse during incubation 
does not flush readily, allowing close approach 
before taking wing. They lay only one clutch 
except the first be destroyed. They have not 
The voung when hatched 
by domestic fowl, entirely ignore their foster 
mother from the moment they can walk, and 
been domesticated. 
at the first opportunity stray away never to re- 
turn. 
A. B. AVERILL. 
Queries and Replies. 
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(2) At what place in Oregon was the recent 
find of Zeolites made, andby whom? R.N. J. 
(3) While fishing on the Willamette river on 
a bright pleasant day this spring, I observed 
our common bat industriously catching insects, 
and would like to inquire if it is not of rare oc- 
currence for bats to seek their food during the 
day. This happened so close to me that I 
could distinctly see the small flies that he was 
catching, C. B. H. Oswego, Ore, 
