A Tame Ruffed Grouse 83 



wild members of her species. Disappointed, we were about to give up the 

 search, when suddenly the familiar "Quit" was heard. The bird was seen 

 coming slowly toward us. We tried in vain to coax the Grouse into the 

 open field, but she was more shy than usual and kept at a distance. 

 Finally, after much coaxing, the bird came within a few feet of us, but she 

 would not allow herself to be handled. Exposures were made, but they 

 were unsuccessful on account of the extreme shyness of the bird and 

 because of the underbrush. Once she came within ten feet of me, stood 

 gazing intently at me a few moments and then walked slowly away. 

 Surely the Grouse did resent being taken to town and a too close acquaint- 

 anceship with strangers. The bird has learned something from experience, 

 and does not wish to be treated in that way a second time. 



A number of weeks afterwards, my brother and Mr. Rand again visited 

 the haunts of the Grouse, going through the same process as described 

 above, calling "Chickee," "Chickee," and searching the thicket. In about 

 fifteen minutes they discovered that the Grouse was following them, her 

 presence being detected by a responsive cluck from the bird and by the 

 sound of her walking in the leaves. At first she was rather wary, not 

 allowing them to get nearer than a rod. As they advanced the Grouse 

 would retreat, and, upon their retreating, she would come up to the original 

 point. Mr. Rand took a stick and rustled in the leaves. This attracted 

 her curiosity and as he retreated she advanced. They got her within ten 

 feet of the edge of the thicket, and several exposures were made of the bird 

 at that place. It was very hard to get her out into the open. They 

 stripped choke-cherries from the overhanging bushes and fed them to her. 

 These she ate readily. Finally, after a half hour's coaxing, she came out 

 into the open space, where my brother took several snap-shots of her; 

 each one being nearer than the preceding, she all the time becoming 

 more familiar in her attitude toward them. After my brother had exposed 

 the last plate, the Grouse came up to the camera and pecked the tripod 

 and camera case lying near. At this point a Hawk flew past overhead and 

 the bird darted back into the thicket. After twenty minutes of coaxing 

 they got her out again to the edge of the brush, bur she would come no 

 farther. Finally, Mr. Rand picked her up and brought her out. She 

 resented being handled, but still did not run away when he put her on the 

 ground. At this point a third man came on the scene, but the Grouse 

 appeared to take no notice of him. Mr. Rand held out his hand and the 

 bird backed slowly away, still facing him. She was backing up a steep 

 incline and so could not move very fast. He thrust his hand under her 

 feet and she stepped into it. Here was a Ruffed Grouse, said to be 

 untamable, standing in a man's hand, and all of my brother's plates were 

 exposed ! 



A week after this another visit was made to the Grouse. This time 



