60 FEATHERED GAME 



gradually spreading northward as well as west- 

 ward. We northerners may well be pleased to 

 gain such gallant little citizens. In these new 

 surroundings they are said to be taking more 

 and more to grouse habits, both in strategy and 

 in mode of life, evincing a disposition to hide in 

 trees when much harried, and for the night — 

 traits which are not common further south. 



All through the fall and winter months the 

 birds keep together in good-sized flocks, but 

 at the approach of the breeding season the peace 

 and quiet of the covey is changed for fierce and 

 savage contests among the males in strife for 

 the favors of their charmers. The covey be- 

 gins to break up, and as each valiant little 

 knight wins his fair lady by force of arms they 

 seek together some fitting nook in the fence 

 corner or in the edge of the brush and there 

 make their home. About May they begin to 

 build their nest, making it upon the ground, of 

 leaves and dry grasses. Often it is deep and 

 cup-shaped, sometimes domed over and hav- 

 ing an entrance on the side. The number of 

 eggs varies. Probably ten youngsters to a 

 brood is a liberal estimate for the north, though 

 anywhere from twelve to twenty eggs or even 



