AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



143 



Canada^ Grovise (Spruce Pa-rtridge) Nest. 



IDendra^apus Ca nadensis . 



While following the trail from B. Pond to Upton, Maine, I was fortu- 

 nate in finding the nest of the Spruce Grouse. It was placed on the 

 ground within five feet of the trail, where men were passing nearly every 

 day. It was on a knoll (not in dense swamp) being placed under a small 

 fir balsam (Abies Balsamea) and resembling very much the nest of a Ruffed 

 Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) both in the location and the construction. 



On May 13th the nest was discovered with only one egg; the next day 

 another was added. On going to inspect and get a photograph of the 

 nest, the male was met about two hundred yards from it. He strutted 

 about like a turkey gobbler and was very pugnacious. It was a curious 

 fact that every day the nest was visited, the male was found in the same 

 place and went through the same performances. He never came nearer 

 the nest even when we were right beside it. 



On May 15th there were three eggs. The bird was on the nest but 

 glided off when approached. She appeared to be getting tamer; on the 

 i6th there were four eggs and the bird was very tame. On the 17th it 

 rained all day and the bird did not add to her clutch nor was she on the 

 nest. I was afraid she was going to desert it. It was not visited again 

 until the 24th. The bird was incubating and was exceedingly tame, al- 

 most allowing herself to be taken off. There were six eggs. She showed 

 great distress while we were near and remained close by, while the male 

 did not appear. The nest was made of small twigs, bark, moss, leaves 

 and a few feathers of the bird herself. Most writers say that this bird 

 lays from eight to fourteen eggs, but on talking with a good many old 

 guides who have seen a great many broods, they say they have never 

 seen more than six or seven in a brood. I cannot agree with what they 

 say in regard to the spots on the eggs of this bird. They are not on the 

 surface nor do they rub off. 1 regret very much that the photos I took of 

 the bird and nest did not prove successful. The weather was very bad 



for such work. John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass. 



