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i 



and the hunters keep the eagle and the because he can raise the numerous 



fox and all our foes away, and our fam- wide soft feathers on each side of the 



ily of red grouse in Scotland is larger neck and make a ruff like those the 



now than before the hunters came. It ladies used to wear when Elizabeth was 



is because we are on the moors that all Queen of England. 



the wealthy people come to Scotland "His favorite home is in the heavy 



in August. Thousands of strangers fill bird forests or in the thickets of the 



the land, and they all come for us, the scrub oak and he is seldom found in 



little red grouse who live only on Brit- places open e'nough for good hunting 



ish moors. We are proud of the fact with the dogs. 



that we are the only bird that belongs "When disturbed, the birds fly like 



to Great Britain alone. We take care an arrow for the thickest shelter, 



of our young together, my mate and I, They dart behind the tree trunks or 



and in October we join other families light upon its branches, and are so still 



and fly to the uplands." and so exactly the color of the tree 



Just here the hens of the capercailzie that they look like part of it. 



and the black cock began a noisy clat- " The ruffed grouse are found in all 



ter. " I wish our husbands were like parts of the United States. They go 



the red grouse," said one. "I think it in pairs or in small companies. The 



is a perfect shame," said another; " my drumming noise made by the male 



mate never stays near the nest. When when he is calling his mate is a very 



I must leave the eggs to hunt for food pleasant sound in the woods and may 



he is never there to keep them warm." sometimes be heard a mile away. 



" I wish I were a willow grouse or a red " He selects a hollow log, struts back 



grouse," said another demure little hen. and forth upon it, and at last strikes 



The black cocks and the capercailzie his sides with his wings so rapidly that 



looked rather ashamed; even the chair- the noise resembles distant thunder, 



man hung his head, but he quickly When his mate comes he raises his ruff 



called the hens to order, saying: "Now until his head is almost hidden. He 



we will hear from our American friend, spreads his tail like a fan, and tries to 



the ruffed grouse." make himself lovely in her eyes. 



"Wake up! Wake up! You have been " They build their nest on the ground, 



sleeping in the moonlight! 1 ' "Where It is made of grass, twigs and leaves, 



is the ruffed grouse?" I sleepily ask, The mother-bird is very clever in pro- 



and then my brother laughs and asks tecting her young brood. If she hears 



what I have been dreaming. So it was someone near, she gives a cluck and 



all a dream, and the moonlight, the they disappear, while she moves slowly 



pines, the grouse and the jubilee have along trying to lead the intruder away 



been but parts of a dream! "You awoke from the nest. When she can get be- 



me and now you must tell me about hind a tree she flies swiftly away, com- 



the ruffed grouse," I say to my brother, ing back to the nest when she thinks 



" Well, you must know that there are all is safe. 



many varieties of grouse in our broad " Go to sleep again and perhaps you 



land, but the ruffed grouse is the will have another dream," laughed my 



gamiest and handsomest in plumage of brother. "That is all interesting, but 



all the grouse family. It is swifter on I am sorry I did not hear the ruffed 



the wing and harder to shoot. grouse tell his own story." 



"This bird is called ruffed grouse Florence Holbrook. 



