A MERl CA N ORNI THO LOGY. 



75 



task though as it is simply a hollow 

 in the leaves The one shown is in 

 a favorite location. It is an excel- 

 lent photo, both from a photograph- 

 er's and a naturalist's view. The 

 nest contains fourteen eggs although 



part of them are hidden by the sides 

 of the hollow. hi regard to this 

 nest, Dr. J. B. Pardoe writes, 'The 

 nest was found near here (Bound 

 Brook, N. J.). I tried hard to pho- 

 tograph the mother bird on the nest. 



NEST AND EGGS OF RUFFED GROUSE. 



but she always glided quietly away 

 when I approached. 1 watched the 

 nest very carefully, as 1 wanted to 

 photograph the young if possible. 

 One night when I looked at it one 

 or two of the eggs were pipped. 

 'Now,' I i^ thought, 'by tomorrow 

 noon I can photo the young ones.' 

 But when I got there they had all 

 hatched and gone. An old settler 

 told me they would start to run with 

 one half of the shell fast to them. 



They are very sturdy and forward." 

 in all probability you would pass 

 right by the nest without noticing it, 

 especially if the bird was at home. 

 She knows that her colors and mark- 

 ings resemble the dead leaves so 

 closely that she is not apt to be 

 seen. She will remain upon the 

 nest until in danger of being trod 

 upon, and then leave with a loud 

 whirr. if, after recovering from 

 your surprise you try to find the 



