1905
June 6
(No 3)
  On May 11th Gilbert found the nest of a
Ruffed Grouse in the Swamp behind Ball's Hill. It
was raised nearly a foot above the ground among the
stems of a circular cluster of alder sprouts that grow 
within about 5 feet of a cart path. Gilbert flushed the bird & saw that
the nest was well-filled with eggs but he did not
count them. The next day I examined the nest &
found that there were nine (9) eggs. The bird laid
no more. For several days she invariably flew from
the nest whenever anyone approached it either on
foot or in a wagon usually rising when the intruder
was fully 20 yards distant; but by degrees she
became accustomed to the frequent passing and
would permit us to either walk or drive past her
without moving. On one occasion I took six people
by her in a line, cautioning them all to keep moving.
The last, a lady, stopped for an instant to get a
better view of the bird who at once took wing.
We visited the nest daily during the latter part
of May, but never disturbed the bird. When I
passed it on the afternoon of June 3rd she
was sitting quietly. On June 5th Mr. E.H. Forbush
found the old bird leading her brood of young through
the bushes very near the nest. All the eggs had hatched, -
probably on this date although the nest was not
visited by any of us on the 4th.
  One singular fact about this nest is that no
Partridge has drummed within hearing of the spot.
This spring. As I was living at the cabin the first
two weeks of May I can assert this positively & yet I
often flushed a cock bird with or near the hen before
she began sitting & not when she nested.