The Sage- Grouse 215 



average being about a dozen. The writer has 

 seen eight well advanced toward hatching in one 

 nest, and sixteen in another. 



When the female begins to sit, the male deserts 

 her, going off with his fellows and taking no part 

 in the care of the young, which are hatched in 

 about three weeks. During the period of incuba- 

 tion the plumage of the hen furnishes a fine illus- 

 tration of the value of protective coloration. She 

 will rarely desert her eggs unless actually com- 

 pelled to, and when she is closely crouching with 

 her head low and drawn in, it is well-nigh impos- 

 sible to make her out. 



As an illustration of this, I was once chatting 

 with a cowboy beside a seldom-used trail, when a 

 newcomer, an English ranchman, rode up. This 

 gentleman was a veteran of many fields and quite 

 an accomplished naturalist, hence a close observer. 

 The conversation turned upon the sage-grouse, 

 and the Briton expressed a desire to see a nest, 

 adding that he had ridden out for the purpose of 

 locating one. 



" You've probably passed half a dozen on your 

 way here," remarked the cowboy ; " there's lots 

 of them around." 



" Impossible, my friend, impossible ! " said the 

 Briton. " I've kept a very sharp lookout, and I 

 assure you I'm no novice at that sort of thing." 



" I'll bet you a dollar you're not fifteen yards 



