THE GROUSE FAMILY 65 



can get it. Almost all wild berries are acceptable. Elder- 

 berries are easily gathered in quantity, and could be hung 

 up and dried, and fed to them in winter. They are fond 

 also of various buds, such as maple, birch, and willow. 

 Branches could be trimmed off and given them. In a proper 

 pen they will find a good deal of this "browse." As they are 

 so largely vegetarian, the food problem is not the main 

 difficulty. 



Reaching Maturity. During the latter part of August the 

 young birds begin to moult into the adult plumage. When 

 this is complete, from the middle to the last of September, 

 they begin their interesting strutting performance, both 

 males and females. The ruff or black collar is spread about 

 the neck, the elegant black-bordered tail is extended like a 

 fan, and every feather stands out. This "show" lasts till 

 settled cold weather in November, and begins again. Doctor 

 Hodge says, with the first springlike days in February, and 

 during mild snow-flurries, continuing imtil the middle of 

 June. The cock begins his remarkable drumming in April, 

 and continues it about as long as the strutting stunt. 



Prairie Chickens. The few small experiments which 

 have been tried with the prairie hen, and perhaps with 

 the sharp-tailed grouse, both commonly known as prairie 

 chickens, indicate that the problem with them is similar 

 to that of the ruffed grouse. These birds, being largely eaters 

 of grain and seeds, are easily kept, as far as food is concerned, 

 and they become sufficiently tame. They are, however, 

 fully as sensitive to disease in confinement as the ruffed 

 grouse. In spring they go through their peculiar tooting 

 and strutting performances and lay one set of eggs in the en- 

 closure. Mr. Rogers says they are polygamous. He has 

 raised them in the Middle West from wild eggs, with hens, 



