FOREST BIRDS 155 



hind their record of his wanderings. When the 

 deepening snows cover the seeds and berries, he goes 

 to the upper story of his woodland dwelling and 

 changes his diet to buds f,nd catkins. If the night 

 is too bleak to sleep in the open, he flies headlong 

 into a snowbank and finds a warm bed beneath this 

 strange blanket. 



The Slender Foot of a Ruffed Grouse in Summer (left) and 

 (right.) the Fringed Foot of a Ruffed Grouse in Winter, 

 When the Bird Dons Snowshoes 



With the passing of winter the Grouse joins the 

 band of Spring's musicians. His part is not the pipe 

 of the frogs, the trumpet of the Geese, or the fife 

 of the Meadowlark. The drum is his instrument, 

 and most vigorously does he play his part. Thump- 

 thump-thump, he begins, increasing the speed of 

 beats until they run into a mufiled roll. 



How the bird produces this remarkable sound 

 long remained a mystery. Some persons believed 



