Winter they descend to the valleys. They are not migratory, 

 such movements being made solely in search of food and to 

 escape the severe weather of the higher altitudes. 



The food of the blue grouse consists of insects, which form a 

 large part of the food of the young birds, grasshoppers being 

 the principal insect eaten, and fruit, seeds and leaves. Like 

 the spruce grouse, the blue grouse is a browser and is one of 

 our chief foliage-eating birds. Dr. Judd says it spends most 

 of its time in pine forests feeding on needles, buds and flowers. 

 In the Summer many berries are eaten, among them the 

 abundant wild gooseberries, currants, strawberries, huckle- 

 berries, service and bear-berries. The flesh is white, tender, 

 juicy and delicious. Later in the season it is affected by the 

 change in diet and it often has then a bitter and resinous taste 

 which renders it highly undesirable. Like the other grouse, 

 the dusky grouse nests on the ground in May or June. Usually 

 there are about eight eggs, sometimes more. The birds should 

 be shot in September and October, when they are desirable for 

 the table, and if properly looked after on some good-sized pre- 

 serves the markets can be kept full of them without decreasing 

 their numbers from year to year. 



The enemies of these grouse are eagles as well as hawks, and 

 mountain lions, lynx and other species of ground vermin, 

 including snakes. 



