THE WILLOW GROUSE 55 
actly alike. The dress of each bird is contin- 
ually changing,—(they moult three times a 
year)—-varying the proportion of each colored 
area and seeming to put on the new coat a 
feather at a time before the last suit is fairly 
donned. In winter they are snow white ex- 
cept the tail feathers, which are black, white 
tipped, and the wing quill shafts, also black. 
There is a red patch above the eye as in the 
spruce grouse. The legs and feet are covered, 
even down to the ends of the toes, with fine, 
hair-like feathers which make them a good pair 
of snow shoes. It needs sharp eyes to see them 
where they crouch in the snow when clad in 
their winter garb, lying motionless in the drifts, 
or when in summer their coat of reddish brown 
matches so well the dead grass and bare rocks 
of their chosen wilderness. 
If pursued they may dash off to a safe dis- 
tance, then coming to earth may run a little 
way, then suddenly squat upon the ground, re- 
maining motionless until the danger has passed 
or they are forced to fly to prevent capture. If 
the snow be on the ground they may dash head- 
long into the loose drifts, making their way 
well into them, to remain hidden; or mayhap 
