Page:Bird-lore Vol 06.djvu/112



A Tame Ruffed Grouse

By CARLTON D. HOWE

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‘ ‘ IHILE at my home in Newfane, Vermont, last summer. reports came to me that a farmer in the neighborhood had upon his farm a Ruﬁed Grouse that was comparatively tame. Of course. being interested in this report. I interviewed Mr. Rand. the farmer, and received fro'm him the following facts: In August, 1902. while picking blackberries, he discovered a ﬂock of seven young Grouse about half grown. They remained near by. within twenty or thirty feet. for an hour or so. showing little evidence of fear. The parent bird was not seen.

About the first of the next October. while Mr. Rand was picking apples, he was surprised to see a Ruffed Grouse walk out of the bushes and come up under the tree where he was at work. The bird did not appear afraid. but much interested in what the farmer was doing. walking around him and observing him from all sides. ﬁnally hopping on the wall. as if to superintend the apple-gathering The bird stayed with the farmer at least two hours. and when he went away he left it under the tree.

In the following spring, while working in the field. Mr. Rand noticed a Grouse following his farm»wagon. The bird was undoubtedly his old friend, seeking to renew the acquaintance of the preceding fall. The Grouse followed the wagon, perhaps ﬁfty rods. until she came in sight of the farm buildings. where she stopped and waited for the wagon to come back again. and then accompanied the team down to the field The Grouse repeated this performance for several weeks. In fact. almost every time the farm-wagon made its appearance in the field. the bird was on hand to escort the team back and forth,

As the Grouse continued to grow less shy, Mr. Rand conceived the idea of making her tamer by oﬁering her food and talking to her. The bird very seldom are any of the different kinds of food which he offered her.

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