Page:Bird-lore Vol 06.djvu/114

 A Tame Ruﬁ’ed Grouse 83

wild members of her species. Disappointed. we were about to give up the search, when suddenly the familiar "Quit" was heard The bird was seen coming slowly toward us. We tried in vain to coax the Grouse into the open ﬁeld. but she was more shy than usual and kept at a distance. Finally, after much coaxing. the bird came within a few feet of us, but she would not allow herself to be handled. Exposures were made, but they were unsuccessful on account of the extreme shyness of the bird and because of the underbrushi Once she came within ten feet of me, stood gazing intently at me a few moments and then walked slowly away. Surely the Grouse did resent being taken to town and a too close acquaint- anceship with strangers The bird has learned something from experience, and does not wish to be treated in that way a second time.

A number of weeks afterwards. my brother and Mr. Rand again visited the haunts of the Grouse. going through the same process as described above, calling "Chickee." "Cnickee," and searching the thicket. In about ﬁfteen minutes they discovered that the Grouse was following them, her presence being detected by a responsive cluck from the bird and by the sound of her walking in the leaves. At first she was rather wary. not allowing them to get nearer than a rod. As they advanced the Grouse would retreat, and, upon their retreating. she would come up to the original point. Mr. Rand took a stick and rustled in the leaves This attracted her curiosity and as he retreated she advanced. They got her within ten feet of the edge of the thicket, and several exposures were made of the bird at that place. It was very hard to get her out into the open. They stripped chokemherries from the overhanging bushes and fed them to her. These she ate readilyi Finally, after a half hour's coaxing, she came out into the open space. where my brother took several snap-shots of her: each one being nearer than the preceding, she all the time becoming more familiar in her attitude toward them. After my brother had exposed the last plate. the Grouse came up to the camera and packed the tripod and camera case lying near. At this point a Hawk flew past overhead and the bird darted back into the thicket. After twenty minutes of coaxing they got her out again to the edge of the brush, but she would come no farther. Finally. Mr. Rand picked her up and brought her out. She resented being handled, but still did not run away when he put her on the ground At this point a third man came on the scene. but the Grouse appeared to take no notice of him. Mr. Rand held out his hand and the bird hacked slowly away. still facing him. She was backing up a steep incline and so could not move very fast. He thrust his hand under her feet and she stepped into it Here was a Ruﬁed Grouse, said to be untamable. standing in a man's hand, and all of my brother's plates were exposed !

A week after this another visit was made to the Grouse. This time