22 FEATHERED GAME 



that a heavy fall of snow in worse than zero 

 weather (and nothing less would drive them to 

 cover) with a rise of temperature sufficient to 

 thaw or rain, and then a ' ' freeze, ' ' each follow- 

 ing the other and all taking place within the 

 probable space of ten hours' time is a very 

 great rarity even in a region as noted for 

 weather eccentricities as is our dear New Eng- 

 land I From the many snug wigwams made by 

 the pendant branches of evergreens or sturdy 

 roofs of '' junipers," over-arched with snow, 

 sheltering some storm-harassed partridge and 

 furnishing plenty of food of foxberry leaves 

 and berries, which I see in my own range of 

 woods I have small belief in any serious reduc- 

 tion in our grouse population from this cause. 

 In such shelters as these it is almost impossible 

 to be so closed in that Mr. Grouse cannot get 

 out when he desires. Many times when an ice- 

 storm has been blamed for the apparent scarc- 

 ity of grouse they have only departed on one of 

 their regular ' ' spring movings. ' ' Surely, when 

 the buds commence to swell and the '^ green 

 things growing" start up through the remain- 

 ing ice-blanket we do not expect the bird to stay 



