296 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



spring under a sagebush, believing it to be safe when it is 

 out of sight, and rushes away. When the danger is re- 

 moved, she returns, and one call brings it forth. All young 

 animals are obedient to the mother's call, for there is no 

 false word or note in the language of animals. 



When the hunter has been stalking a band of elks for 

 miles through the dense forest, and, being at some dis- 

 tance behind them, finds eventually that they have lain 

 down, he always discovers that the old cow leader is in a 

 position to look backward along the trail. The instant this 

 ever-faithful leader detects the approach of a hunter, she 

 gives a sharp whistle as a danger signal, and the entire band 

 at once bounds away from the intruder. None wait, even 

 an instant, to see if it be a false alarm, for there is never 

 any doubt, uncertainly or deception. 



The American ruffed grouse has probably been more 

 discussed than any other bird of the west. The grouse is 

 always a favorite bird with the sportsman, and its habits 

 are governed largely by existing circumstances. With the 

 eye of an eagle, the cunning of a fox, the carriage of a 

 queen, the plumage of a peacock, it has the boldness of a 

 lion. It is a wild adventurer who unconcernedly penetrates 

 the deepest forest, and depends upon the unbroken wilder- 

 ness for its daily bread. This grouse is an inveterate wan- 

 derer, for I have seen him in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, 

 Wisconsin, Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. 



I have watched a male stand on his tiptoes upon an old 

 log, and, with an inflated breast, upon which he beats with 

 his wings, begin to play the long roll, thumping faster and 

 faster, until the vibrations sounded like a long roll of drums. 

 Some sportsmen contend that the grouse beats upon the log 

 with his wings to make the sound. I have,, however, care- 

 fully watched him with a field glass from a distance of sixty 



