418 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



may all be readily secured by a little precaution and pains. It is said that 

 they are so unwary and regardless of the near presence of man, that when 

 thus in the imagined slielter of a tree they will permit themselves to be ap- 

 proached, the whole flock shot, or even knocked down with a stick. Some- 

 times they may all be taken alive, one after the other, by means of a noose 

 affixed to the end of a long pole. 



According to Audubon, the Canada Grouse indicate the approach of rainy 

 weather by retiring to roost at an unusual time in the day, whenever a storm 

 is impending. If observed to fly up to their roost at midday, it rarely fails 

 to rain or snow before the evening ; and if, on the contrary, they remain busily 

 engaged in search of food until sunset, the night and the following morning 

 are pretty sure to be fresh and clear. 



The young of this Grouse are very strong and active from the moment they 

 are hatched, and are able to fly at a very early age. When in Labrador, Mr. 

 Audubon almost walked, by accident, upon a female Canada Grouse, sur- 

 rounded by her young brood. This was about the middle of July. The 

 affrighted mother, upon perceiving him, ruffled up all her feathers in the 

 manner of the common Hen, and advanced close to him as if determined to 

 defend her offspring. Her distressed condition claimed his forbearance, and 

 she was allowed to remain in safety. As soon as he retired she smoothed 

 down her plumage and uttered a tender maternal chuck, when the little ones 

 took to their wings with ease, though they appeared to be not more than one 

 week old. 



Mr. Audubon found this Grouse moulting as early as the 20th of July. 

 At that period the young were generally already able to fly fully a hundred 

 yards in a single flight. They alighted on low trees and were easily taken 

 alive. 



This Grouse feeds, in the summer, on berries of various kinds, as well as 

 upon the buds and leaves of several different kinds of plants and shrubs. 

 In the autumn they gorge themselves with the berries of the Solomon's Seal. 

 At this season their flesh is much the best. In the winter, wdien they 

 feed on the buds of the hackmatack and the spruce and firs, and also 

 upon the leaves of the spruces, as stated by Eichardson, they have a bitter, 

 disagreeable taste, and are hardly fit to eat. 



This Grouse may be readily kept in confinement, and even made to breed 

 there. Mr. Thomas Lincoln, of Dennysville, fed some of them on oats, on 

 which food they appeared to thrive very well. 



The eggs of this food vary in length from 1.75 inches to 1.68, and in 

 breadth from 1.22 to 1.20 inches. Eggs taken at Fort Eesolution, by Mr. 

 Kennicott, have a ground of a deep dull cream-color, shaded with ochre. 

 They are of an oblong-oval shape, speckled and marked with spots of a dark 

 chestnut-color. In these specimens the spots are larger towards the smaller 

 end. 



