56 FEATHERED GAME 



passing some distance through them to creep 

 carefully out and fly noiselessly away when 

 safe to do so. They often dive into the snow 

 for shelter or to pass the night in winter, dash- 

 ing into it from the air and working their way 

 far under the drifts for safety's sake. They 

 are said to be very careful not to touch their 

 feet to the snow in entering it in this little piece 

 of strategy, in order not to leave a scent for 

 any prowling fox to trace them out. 



In size the Willow Grouse is a trifle smaller 

 than the spruce grouse (length about four- 

 teen inches) but its heavily feathered body 

 looks larger than it really is. 



Out of the ten different races of Ptarmigans, 

 many so nearly alike that even a scientist can- 

 not always name them to a certainty without 

 the knowledge of the locality in which a speci- 

 men was taken, this is the only visitor to New 

 England, and this one but rarely. 



The bird at the left in the plate is in the win- 

 ter dress; the bird at the right is in the sum- 

 mer plumage. 



