RUFFED GROUSE. 33 



colors are the colors of the brown leaves that lie 

 011 the ground, and as he crouches close to the 

 earth it is no easy task to discover him. The one 

 thought of the poor persecuted bird seems to be 

 to keep out of reach of his enemies. 



Here, one of his favorite covers is in a quiet 

 spot where I go to gather ferns a grove that 

 " fronts the rising sun " and is full of dappled 

 maple saplings interspersed with the white birches 

 that gleam in the morning light and keep birch- 

 bark scrolls rolled up along their sides ready for 

 the birds to carry away for their nests. At the 

 foot of the trees, and close to the moss-covered 

 drumming-log, ferns stand in pretty groups of all 

 growths from the tiny green sprays and the soft 

 uncurling downy balls to the full grown arching 

 fronds whose backs are dotted with brown fruit ; 

 while, as a protecting hedge along the front of the 

 grove, great masses of the tender green mountain 

 fern give their delicate fragrance to the air. But 

 pass by this hiding place, and a sudden whirr 

 through the bushes, first from one startled bird 

 and then another, tells you they have flown before 

 you. Approach the drumming-log when the air 

 has been resounding with exultant blows the 

 noise stops, not a bird is to be seen. 



As we feed the partridges in our woods and 

 never allow any hunting there, in winter the birds 

 venture about the house for food. The Norway 

 spruces by the garden afford a warm shelter, and 



