THE GROUSE ON SNOW-SHOES 



267 



the blizzard arrives, the bird is ready to walk on the 

 highest drifts. I have made a drawing of the foot 

 with and without its shoe. 



The intention of this bristly growth is perfectly plain, 

 for in April, when the snows have melted, you may look 

 in vain for the snow-shoe ; the grouse has kicked it off 

 as a thing that has served its purpose. And yet, unless 

 I am much mistaken, you will find no mention of this 

 singular fact in any of our natural histories. The curi- 

 ous pectinated (comb-toothed) feet of the grouse are 

 noted as a special feature of this family of 

 birds, but the peculiar annual growth and ad- 

 aptation are, I believe, not generally known. 

 The difference between the summer and win- 

 ter tracks first drew my attention 

 and awakened my suspicion, but 

 that observant naturalist, Mr. Er- 

 nest Thompson, was the first to re- 

 cord the snow-shoe of the grouse. 



This accommodating foot is com- 

 mon to all the grouse family, and 

 the prairie-hen is even more generously 

 equipped in winter than the ruffed grouse. 

 The latter bird uses his broad foot for bur- 

 rowing, and the winter walker, after a fresh 

 snow-fall or during a very cold stress of weather, may 

 often find their snow tunnels running for several feet 

 beneath the drifts. 



I once knew a boy who surprised a grouse in the act 

 of excavating one of these burrows ; but the bird, in 

 spite of the most extreme caution on the boy's part, 

 left nothing but its tail in his hand to show for his 

 adventure when he reached home. 



