North American Grouse. 



643 



and the one who is inferior in courage and strength yields his place 

 to the bolder, and retires discomfited. 



After the two birds have come together, the hen builds a hasty 

 nest on the ground with twigs and grasses, laying in it from ten to 

 twelve eggs, of a yellow-brown color, which are hatched in June, the 

 young birds attaining their growth by the first 

 of October, unless, as it often happens, floods 



AI'RII.-KOOL 



m 



or late snows retard the nesting, when the young 

 come to maturity proportionately later. 



The habits of the mother-bird when running vW^f 



with her young are conspicuous. Her ceaseless activity, 

 her boldness in danger, her sagacity in finding food, her 

 ability in controlling the dimity little chicks confided to her charge, 

 perpetually challenge admiration. With a warning cluck which the 

 young understand perfectly, she flies away, and they run under the 

 brown and scattered leaves, lying so still and so matched in color 

 that no one can detect them, and when hidden they will not move 

 unless they are touched. Or if the passer comes suddenly upon 

 the brood, the mother's distressed cluck, her fluttered wings, and 

 her tumbling on the ground irresistibly draw you to her. She 

 gradually flutters along, uttering lamentable cries, and when you 

 ir< about to place your hand on her back she skates away through 

 the forest glade, uttering a note which we can easily translate into 

 "April -fool." 



This bird is the friend of the country boy. It has many a time 

 made him jump as it burst out of the way-side bushes, and bird and 



