THE RUFFED GROUSE. 83 



Soon after fhe disappearance of the snow, in the 

 spring, the female responds to the love-call of the male. 

 In the United States this mating usually takes place 

 early in April, and precedes the laying of the first egg two 

 or three weeks. A single meeting of the pair, at this 

 time, insures a fertile laying. 



The nest is composed of a few leaves placed in a slight 

 depression on the ground, usually under a log, but often 

 under low bushes, low, spreading evergreens, or in weeds. 

 It is as frequently found along the edges of sunny open- 

 ings as in dense cover, but is always located vidthin half 

 a mile of the male' s headquarters. 



For her second laying, when the first has been 

 destroyed, the female sometimes takes possession of 

 abandoned nests, in trees or on the tops of stubs, remov- 

 ing her young to the ground in her bill. This is of rare 

 occurrence. 



The eggs of each laying vary in number from seven 

 to fifteen; they also vary in color, being usually a clear 

 cream or buff, but sometimes dotted or splashed with 

 brown. They are ovoidal in form, and measure 1.65 by 

 1.20 inches, although specimens have been taken consid- 

 erably larger as well as smaller. 



But one brood is raised each year; but should the first 

 laying be destroyed, a second (or even a third) is pro- 

 duced, the male being revisited each time. 



When on her eggs the hen often permits a very close 

 approach. I have seen them captured by the hand, and 

 one by placing a hat over her. Such cases are rare, how- 

 ever, as she usually sneaks away from her nest upon the 

 approach of man. The fact that she covers her eggs with 

 leaves, when leaving them to look for food, leads me to 

 believe that she hides from the cock during the hatching 

 period, much after the manner of the hen turkey, and for 

 the same reason. 



