FOUR NOTABLES 207 
ably, however, the fox rarely finds her nest, unless he 
happens to blunder directly into it. 
* * * * * * * 
“During the fall the Grouse keep together in small 
flocks. Sometimes a dozen birds may be found around 
some favourite grape-vine or apple tree, but they are 
usually so harried and scattered by gunners that toward 
winter the old birds may sometimes be found alone. 
‘* As winter approaches, this hardy bird puts on its 
‘snow-shoes,’ which consist of a fringe of horny processes 
or pectinations that grow out along each toe, and help 
to distribute the weight of the bird over a larger surface, 
and so allow it to walk over snows into which a bird not 
so provided would sink deeply. Its digestion must re- 
semble that of the famous Ostrich, as broken twigs and 
dry leaves are ground up in its mill. It is a hard winter 
that will starve the Grouse. A pair spent many winter 
nights in a little cave in the rocky walls of an old quarry. 
Sumacs grew there and many rank weeds. The birds 
lived well on sumac berries, weed seeds, and buds. 
“Sometimes, but perhaps rarely, these birds are impris- 
oned under the snow by the icy crust which forms in cold 
weather following a rain, but usually they are vigorous 
enough to find a way out,somewhere. The Grouse is per- 
fectly at home beneath the snow; it will dive into it to 
escape a Hawk, and can move rapidly about beneath the 
surface and burst out again in rapid flight at some unex- 
pected place. 
“The Ruffed Grouse is a bird of the woodland, and 
though useful in the woods, it sometimes does some injury 
