24 Bonasa Umbellus, Rex. 



amused at her assumption of simplicity 

 and gentleness. She who was the boldest 

 of all when associating with others of her 

 own sex, and who could roar as loudly 

 with her wings as any cock grouse when 

 trying to unnerve an enemy. 



But who could doubt that all of this 

 display on his part meant that he was 

 assuring her that he would be, oh, so true 

 and loyal forever and forever ? She be- 

 lieved in him most sincerely, and loving 

 and respecting tried hard to avoid being 

 annoyed at his overplus of attention. 



It was not long afterward, however, 

 that he acted in a rather independent 

 manner and took little interest in family 

 affairs, so that when in June there was a 

 nest of ten eggs by the side of a clematis- 

 covered stump out at the edge of the 

 brush lot, Old Ironsides was either drum- 

 ming again in another woods altogether, 

 or he was associating with two or three 

 chummy reprobates of his own sex during 

 the livelong day. 



The hen grouse took great comfort 

 with her eggs, though. Six of them were 



