58 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



male in the spring were separated from the female, he would 

 at once begin "drumming," even when he had not done it 

 before. 



Probable Polygamy. The above would suggest that the 

 grouse may be naturally polygamous, and that several hens 

 might be kept together separate from the male, putting him 

 with them only for a short time, or a succession of cocks, one 

 at a time, if there were a number of hens in the pen, then 

 giving them a chance to lay their eggs in peace. The eggs 

 could be removed to be set under bantams, and it might be 

 that the birds, after mutual abstinence, would be more liable 

 to mate again and produce second layings. I have not had 

 opportunity as yet to try out these details, but give them as 

 suggestions for future experiments. 



The Pen. I should say that for each breeding pair the 

 enclosure should be at least 30 feet square. Open ground is 

 not favourable for grouse, as it is for quail and pheasants. 

 They are fond of browsing on leaves, shoots, and buds. 

 Recently I watched one of the young we had raised in cap- 

 tivity tearing and devouring an oak leaf. The pens should 

 therefore be built at the edge of the woods, enclosing small 

 trees and bushes, partly in the shade, but with some grass 

 and sunUght. The birds should have a wing clipped, so 

 that they cannot hurt themselves. The pen if open above 

 should have the fence 8 feet high. Stock is so scarce and 

 valuable that it is hardly safe, with only a pair or two at 

 first, to risk hawks and owls, so the top had better be covered, 

 in which case 6 feet high will suffice. Build as described 

 for quails. In case the birds are allowed to rear their 

 own young in the pen, a strip 2 feet high of |-inch mesh 

 must be at the bottom. It could be attached outside the 

 other after the birds had laid. It is better, in pens of any 

 size, to have wire at the bottom rather than boards, as the 



