Bob Whites, Grouse, etc. 



cause sage grouse are commonly found in regions where the bush 

 that lends them its name abounds, there is a popular impression 

 that its leaves are their sole diet; but while they certainly form its 

 staple in winter, at least, immense numbers of grasshoppers, 

 crickets, berries, grain, seeds of grasses, and leguminous plants so 

 change the character of the bird's flesh, ordinarily bitter and 

 astringent, as to make it truly palatable to the fastidious in many 

 sections where only the sharpest appetite could relish it under 

 the sage circumstances. But even then a young bird should be 

 drawn immediately after death. 



Since the sage bush (Artemisia) grows to a height of only 

 two or three feet, a partial migration of a winter pack sometimes 

 becomes necessary when the plant is hopelessly buried under 

 snow, however willing this as well as other grouse may be to 

 plunge into shallow drifts. Intense cold, common to the high 

 altitudes, and intense heat to the alkali regions it inhabits, bliz- 

 zards or scorching winds, apparently do not affect this hardy 

 bird. The food supply is its first consideration ; after that a drink 

 morning and evening from some clear mountain stream. At the 

 approach of winter, coveys of seven or eight birds begin to pack 

 into flocks, sometimes numbering a hundred, whose strong, clan- 

 nish feeling leads them to live much as the Bob Whites do, though 

 the males are no such models of the domestic virtues. Forming 

 in a circle, the grouse squat and huddle for mutual warmth and 

 protection, tails toward the centre of the ring, heads pointing 

 outward to detect danger that may come from any direction. 

 Yet they are not suspicious birds, or wild ; they generally walk 

 quietly away from an intruder, or run and hide among the sage 

 bushes, where, owing to the mimicry of their plumage, it is diffi- 

 cult indeed to detect them. Their nature is terrestrial. Flying, 

 at the outset a laborious performance, will not be resorted to 

 except as a last expedient. The sage cock with effort lifts his 

 heavy body from the ground by much wing flapping; his balance 

 is unsteady until fairly launched ; but once off, on he goes, alter- 

 nately flapping with five or six quick strokes, then smoothly 

 sailing, cackling his alarm as he flies, until far beyond sight. 

 Wheat found in the crop of a bird killed early in the morning 

 eight miles from a cultivated field, proves to what a distance this 

 grouse is willing to fly for a good breakfast. Mr. D. G. Elliot 

 says it requires a heavy blow to bring a bird down, large shot 



286 



