TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 29 



coated, red-breasted, and as big as a thrush, crept in 

 and out the fallen pine stems in the Canadian forests 

 there are as many trees lying down as standing, grow- 

 ing again and overgrown brilliant blue-jays, with 

 crests erect, flew round in chattering dismay. 



In the midst of the thick tangle of green, ever and 

 again one comes on a blackened oasis with bare stand- 

 ing tree-stems holding up their maimed limbs sky- 

 wards in piteous appeal. Desolate bits of country 

 licked up by the forest fires, but with a kindly carpet 

 of the ready growing deer's-foot to make the poor 

 nakedness seem less acute. 



Afar in the bush I heard the booming of the blue 

 grouse. They make the most remarkable love-notes, 

 exactly like the deep tones of a drum, and appear to 

 evolve them from the depths of their inner conscious- 

 ness. It is remarkable how hard it is for untrained 

 eyes to detect these birds when they remain motion- 

 less. I crept along on the line of sound, and the 

 drum-like noise guided me to a beautiful forest glade. 

 So silent was I that the beautiful bird pirouetting for 

 the delight of his ladye was in no way disturbed, 

 and from my fastness of wreathed syringa I could 

 watch the little drama quite unnoticed. 



On a great fallen cedar the grouse " cake-walked " 

 from end to end, his thick black ruff of neck feathers 

 erect, his tail an extended fan. Every few seconds he 

 boomed forth his love-song, so loud a noise for so 

 small a bird. Sometimes he jumped into the air, 

 alighting most gracefully. On a tree near-by Miss 

 Grouse sat criticizing. She was bored almost to 



