152 The Grouse Family 



hens. The color of the eggs varies from pale 

 to a decided buff with darker spots. The most 

 common site for the nest is alongside a log, 

 but the birds exercise little art either in build- 

 ing or concealing it. The period of incubation 

 is about twenty-one days, the young running as 

 soon as they are dry. They are prettily marked 

 above with light and dark buff, the under parts 

 light. Like the young of the ruffed grouse, they 

 are adepts at hiding. When sufficiently grown 

 to flutter to the lower branches of a tree, they 

 adopt the treeing habit, and from that time on 

 behave as do their elders. 



The dusky grouse feeds upon the foliage of cer- 

 tain plants, berries, grasshoppers, and a variety of 

 other insects, grain, grubs, and worms. During 

 the period of deep snow, and snow is astonish- 

 ingly deep in some of its haunts, it sustains itself 

 upon the buds of conifers. 



THE SOOTY GROUSE 

 (Z). o. ftdiginosiis) 



Only an expert could distinguish this race of 

 the preceding species. The plumage is several 

 shades darker, but all important markings are 

 about the same. It is found through the moun- 

 tains from California to Alaska. The habits, 

 nesting, young, and food resemble those of D. 

 obscurus. 



