Bonasa Umbellus, Rex. 21 



bility to the shot that had been fired at 

 him time and again in the lower ravine 

 where he chose to spend most of his 

 time. Day after day the hen grouse had 

 listened for that call, knowing that Old 

 Ironsides would come in the spring-time 

 to find her. And now should she fly 

 impetuously to him and let him know her 

 impatience at his delay ? Oh, no ! The 

 annals of feminine nature contain no his- 

 tory of such rash action, so taking an 

 easy running jump into the air she flew 

 very quietly among the trunks of the big 

 trees of the woods, and then on curving 

 wings sailed slowly near the ground to a 

 point somewhere in his vicinity, and 

 alighting, waited for further summons. 

 The roll call sounded again, and she the 

 only musterer walked half hesitatingly in 

 the direction from which it came, sliding 

 quietly as a mouse behind boulders and 

 thick kalmia bushes, and looking as un- 

 concerned as you please. 



At last he was in sight. High upon 

 the prostrate trunk of a huge storm-riven 

 pine he was pacing slowly to and fro with 



