Page:Bird-lore Vol 06.djvu/115

 84 Bird - Lore

the bird was found without much difﬁculty. She was shy at first, but after some coaxing she became on intimate terms with the men. The camera was focused on a stone in an opening, and Mr. Rand coaxed the bird upon it, when the bulb was pressed. The bird was much more tractable than on previous days. as she came close to the men. The Grouse kept close watch of the movements of Mr. Rand's hands, following them with her head. Exposures

Repeating the process described

A TAME RUFFED amuse

Note the opcn mouth and drooped wings; see text

above. Mr. Rand got her to stand on his hand again. In this position snap- shots were taken of the bird. Although exposed shot a second with the full stop, the movement of her wings in keeping her balance resulted in only a confused blur on the negative.

The pictures were taken on a hot day in August and the unusual exer- cise and excitement fatigued the Grouse. She lolled like a thirsty hen in the barnyard. and some of the photographs represent her in this condition.

This Grouse is a female, but she evidently did not rear a brood last spring, as Mr. Rand says he saw her oftenest during the breeding season and there were no evidences of the bird having a nest or young.

The woods which the Grouse frequents are composed of a marginal growth of willow, alder, ash and maple. not niore than ten rods wide. along a small stream. On the other side is a cultivated ﬁeld. Less than