356 



Bird -Lore 



not disturbed. On June 21, the nest was visited, the hen was seen to stand 

 up, and eight eggs were counted, but the bird was again undisturbed. On 

 June 28, the photographs were made. Up to this time, extreme caution had 

 been taken to avoid any risk of driving the bird from the nest by near 

 approach, and the visits were infrequent. 



When the bird leaves the nest, the eggs are covered with leaves, after the 

 well-known habit of the duck family. 



Further, the bird sits so closely on the nest that it is dislodged only by 



very active effort. 

 •^^fV^Bt ^^^JB&fX'^K&IE^^L^ v r\ Deputy Leonard had 



no difficulty in ap- 

 proaching the bird and, 

 as the photographs in- 

 dicate, of 'chucking 

 her under the chin.' 

 She fought the ap- 

 proach of the hand in 

 the same manner as a 

 setting hen, ruffling her 

 feathers, opening her 

 beak and striking vici- 

 ously. This attachment 

 for the nest indicates 

 why forest fires have 

 been so destructive to 

 the species. 



The birds on the 

 reservation have not 

 been disturbed by 

 human beings since 

 1907; yet when not on 

 the nest they are very 

 wary, but, believing 

 themselves unseen, they depend upon their concealing coloration for escape and 

 so 'lie close.' On June 12, incubation was begun on the clutch of eight eggs, 

 the smallest complete clutch reported. Incubation in this case probably 

 began not earlier than June 9. At least eight broods of young had already 

 hatched previous to that date. The period of incubation is twenty- four da^s. 

 The young birds closely resemble their surroundings and are difficult to 

 detect, as they hide under leaves or crouch flat on the ground, after the well- 

 known habit of the Ruffed Grouse. They feather-out rapidly, the primaries 

 becoming functional, so that considerable flight to escape enemies can be 

 taken after ten days. There appears to be no change of plumage, as in the 



A HEATH HEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OLD 



