326 A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



burrows tunnelled beneath. And these are apparently made, 

 primarily, for the purpose of obtaining the food which lies 

 buried beneath. Even our British Grouse — which does not, 

 like its congener the Willow-grouse, turn white in winter — after 

 a heavy snowfall resorts to this practice, according to Mr. Abel 

 Chapman, who is certainly a naturalist of ripe experience. 

 Seeking Grouse on a moor in Northumberland during the 

 Arctic weather which prevailed in January 1881, he says in the 

 Bird Life' of the Borders : " Yet one scans for miles that wide 

 expanse of glistening snow, till eyes ache . . . but not a single 

 bird is there. The Grouse, as a matter of fact, are all deep- 

 buried beneath the snow. This one presently discovers on 

 coming across a perfect network of burrows — most nearly 

 resembling a rabbit warren. You may have seen afar . . . 

 just the head of one Grouse, the sentiy on guard [though we 

 contend that the evidence for this ' sentry-go ' is of the flimsi- 

 est]. Quite as often, this precaution is neglected, and a whole 

 pack will be asleep in their burrows, secure, they imagine, by 

 the miles of snow-fastnesses around them. 



"The site usually selected for these burrows is on some 

 steep slope ; but always where the heather is old and shaggyi 

 and when its strong, shrub-like stalks keep the snow loose and 

 open beneath." This habit is, he suggests, a survival of a 

 habit once general when, during an earlier period in time, the 

 ground was covered for months. And he urges in support of 

 this the case of the Willow-grouse in Spitzbergen. " That race 

 of Grouse," he writes, " enjoys but four months of life in day- 

 light, and above ground ; the remaining eight being perforce 

 spent in snow-burrows and tunnels in the dark." Here they 

 have provided " not merely a home, but — more important still — 

 a full winter stock of provisions. For these early autumnal 

 snows hold enclosed within their soft and easily excavated 

 recesses the whole abundant crop of Arctic wild fruits and 

 berries ' preserved ' for the birds' winter needs and guarded by 

 the frost-steeled roof above, against risk of decay." 



It is possible, however, that some error in the interpreta- 

 tion of these facts has been made, and until further observa- 

 tions have been made on the habits of these birds under these 

 conditions we prefer to suspend judgment. 



But there are a number of birds which have developed still 



