The Dusky Grouse 



the accompanying illustration, where the cover was of the slightest, yet 

 perfectly in keeping. The bird even sits with half closed eyes, in order 



Taken in Washington 



Photo by Dawson and Bowles 



SOOTY GROUSE ON NEST 



AN EXAMPLE OF PROTECTIVE HARMONY 



that the glint of the eye, the "high light," may not betray her presence. 

 The creamy buff eggs, also, with their light brown spots and splashes, are 

 comparatively inconspicuous when exposed. 



Grouse are close sitters, and will at times suffer even the touch of 

 the hand before bursting off in agitated and noisy flight. I once pottered 

 about for half an hour in the immediate vicinity of a sitting grouse whose 

 presence was unsuspected. She let me pass within five feet of her without 

 betraying her anxiety. She even allowed me to chop out a Chickadee's 

 nest ten feet up in a stub hard by, and that with gesticulations which must 

 have tried the Dendragapine nerve most sorely. With fatuous unconcern 

 I sat down near her upon the ground and spent torturing minutes packing 

 eggs and writing notes. This she endured, but when f sprang suddenly 

 to my feet, her nerves gave out, and she quitted the field in disgust. 



1594 



