THE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 85 
of grass, and frequently undex a bush. It is of very 
simple construction, being made of a few blades of coarse 
grass. The eggs, which vary in number from ten to fif- 
teen, are greenish-white in color, with occasional dots of 
dark olive. The hen is one of the most faithful of moth- 
ers, for she will frequently stay on the eggs until she is 
nearly trodden upon, and sometimes until she is killed. 
When she hears footsteps approaching she lies very close, 
hoping to escape observation, and this she generally does, 
as she resembles the landscape in hue, and hugs the 
ground so closely that it requires a sharp pair of eyes to 
notice her form amid the grass. The young are able to 
run about and provide their own food soon after being 
hatched, but the hen seldom lets them go far away from 
her, as she keeps steadily calling to them with motherly 
clucks. If a person approaches the brood while they are 
roaming abroad, she sounds an immediate alarm, and 
when they rush for concealment she exposes herself freely 
to attract attention from them, until she thinks they are 
safe, when she darts away with a loud whirr, and remains 
away until the threatened or supposed danger is past, 
then rejoins them, and pours out endearments in numer- 
ous gentle clucks. 
When the chickens are old enough to fly they resort to 
the undergrowth, and the shrubbery that fringe fields 
and streams, to feed on the snowberry and other fruits 
of which they are veryfond. The chickens are exceed- 
ingly tame, and lie well to a dog; in fact they lie too well 
sometimes, as persons must give them headway before 
shooting, for fear of tearing them into shreds. When 
they alight after being flushed, they stand as motionless 
as statues, but on seeing their foe approach they squat so 
close to the ground that it is extremely difficult to see 
them, even though one should be within a few feet of 
them. A good dog is therefore requisite for finding 
them, and with such a staunch assistant they afford as 
