THE CANADA GROUSE. 55 



out of sight, as much as to say 'you have two, and that is all you can have.' I 

 must confess that it was with great reluctance I took these eggs from her, she 

 pleaded so hard for them. 



"Anyone who has seen eggs of the Canada Grouse only after they have 

 lain in the nest until the whole set is complete, can have no idea of the beauty 

 of a fresh-laid egg. I have now in my collection about eighty of these eggs, 

 all perfect specimens. 



"The male bird begins to strut in March. I remember very well the first 

 time I saw one strutting. I had obtained the bird in the fall, and he used to sit 

 about, bunched up almost in a round ball, as the female did, until one morning, 

 when I went to feed them I found him strutting. His attitude was so different 

 that one would scarcely have known it was the same bird. I went in the 

 house and told my wife to come and see him, remarking that whether the 

 female laid any eggs or not, I was well paid by this sight for all my trouble. 

 I was so interested in seeing him strut that I had the photographer bring his 

 camera in and take some stereoscopic views of him while strutting. 



"I will describe as nearly as I can his conduct and attitude while strutting: 

 The tail stands almost erect, the wings are slightly raised from the bodv and a 

 little drooped, the head is still well up, and the feathers of the breast and throat 

 are raised and standing out in regular rows, which press the feathers of the 

 nape and hind neck well back, forming a smooth kind of cape on the back 

 of the neck. This smooth cape contrasts beautifully with the ruffled black 

 and white feathers of the throat and fore breast. The red comb over each 

 eye is enlarged until the two nearly meet over the top of the head. This 

 comb the bird is able to enlarge or reduce at will, and while he is strutting 

 the expanded tail is moved from side to side. The two center feathers do 

 not move, but each side expands and contracts alternately with each step 

 as the bird walks. This movement of the tail produces a peculiar rustling, 

 like that of silk. This attitude gives him a very dignified and even con- 

 ceited air. He tries to attract attention in every possible way, by flying from 

 the ground up on a perch, and back to the ground, making all the noise he can 

 in doing so. Then he will thump some hard substance with his bill. I have 

 had him fly up on my shoulder and thump my collar. At this season he is 

 very bold, and will scarcely keep enough out of the way to avoid being stepped 

 on. He wdl sometimes sit with his breast almost touching the earth, his 

 feathers erect as in strutting, and making peculiar nodding and circular motions 

 of the head from side to side; he will remain in this position two or three min- 

 utes at a time. He is a most beautiful bird, and shows by his actions that he 

 is perfectly aware of the fact. 



"As the spring and summer advance the food given these Canada Grouse 

 must be changed with the season, and it is only with a perfect knowledge of 

 their wants and with constant care, that they can be safely carried through the 

 heat of the summer and the moulting season. In the nesting season the 

 females are very quarrelsome, and at this time more than two or three cannot 



