RUFFED GROUSE 



A WOODLAND DRUMMER 



{Fig. 3) 



the days grow shorter, and the 

 leaves fall and the ground becomes 

 covered with snow and the ponds 

 with ice, we don heavier clothing, 

 build a fire in the furnace, put up 

 "storm doors" and prepare for the 

 biting cold of winter. 



The Thrushes, Warblers, Vireos, Flycatchers and 

 other Summer Resident birds have all gone to 

 warmer climes ; even some of those we class as Per- 

 manent Residents have retreated further south or 

 sought the shelter of protected lowlands, but the 

 Ruffed Grouse asks no mercy of the weather nor any 

 better home in winter than his woodland domain has 

 furnished him in summer. 



The slender toes that then so daintily trod the 

 moss and fallen leaves are now bordered with 

 comb-like fringes that, like snowshoes, support him 



on the soft white carpet of the earth, and leave be- 



154 



