A Tame Ruffed Grouse 



85 



one hundred rods away is an extensive forest where the bird could range for 

 miles, yet she apparently chooses to limit her range to a few acres. A 

 much-traveled highway passes within ten rods; indeed, the woods border 

 the highway for some distance. The bird is frequently seen by travelers. 

 In fact, on one occasion, she was picked up by two ladies passing in a 

 carriage and was taken to a neighboring farmhouse. This confidence in 

 human beings may some day lead to her death. To guard against this, 

 however, Mr. Rand has conspicuously posted her haunts, and his wishes 

 were respected by the sportsmen, for she lived through the open hunting 

 season, being last seen on December 10. 



Now, the question naturally arises, why is this bird so tame ? She ap- 

 pears to be a normal, well -developed bird, bright and active in every way. 

 Aside from her tameness, there is nothing in her appearance or actions that 

 differs, so far as we could observe, from other individuals of her species. 

 Why, then, did this particular Grouse forsake her fellows and the heredi- 

 tary tendencies of countless generations of wild birds, to place herself on 

 such intimate terms with man ? 



RUFFED GROUSE POSES 



