164 BIRDS 



faculty of keeping the trunk of a tree between himself and 

 the enemy. If the birds are disturbed by a prowling animal 

 or untrained dog, they take readily to the lower branches of 

 trees, and will permit a person to walk directly under them 

 without attempting to fly. They are often killed from such 

 perch by unsportsmanlike hunters. 



Grouse choose a varied diet — insects, spiders, wild ber- 

 ries, and small fruits; also partaking of grains and fresh- 

 sprouted vegetable matter. 



The nests are usually a hollow in the leaves at the base 

 of a tree or under a fallen branch. From eight to ten cream- 

 colored eggs are laid. The bird sits extremely close, and 

 one may pass within a few feet of the parent bird without 

 disturbing her. The nests are usually near an opening in 

 the woods or on a small incline overlooking a damp or 

 swampy place. The young are piloted about by the mother 

 as soon as they leave the shell. Protective coloration is 

 marked. 



THE WILLOW PTARMIGAN 



In summer the Willow Ptarmigan is distributed 

 thi'oughout Arctic America. It breeds abundantly in the 

 valleys of the Rocky Mountains, on the Barren Grounds, 

 and along the Arctic coasts. The winter dress of this 

 beautiful bird is snow white, with the central tail feathers 

 . black tipped with white. In summer the head and neck are 

 yellowish-red, back black, barred rather finely with yellow- 

 ish-brown and chestnut, although the most of the wings and 

 under parts remain white, as in winter. Large numbers of 

 the willow ptarmigan are said in the winter to shelter in 



