The sea coast echo., 1900-02-03
cRoUs:llNcs IN THE WATER,
a Man who Saw Oae of Them swin
Across a Stream to Safety.

4 Man Who Saw Oae OF tneih SWIM
Across a Stream to Safety.
I have never heard the rufed
grouse classed as an aquatic bird, but
/ was witness of al incident once thai
in way is quite convincing, that IN
case of sink or swim the bird chooses
to swim. Ny family and 1 were en-
ioying an outing one Memorial day
some two or three years ago, aud our
walk led us for some distance close be-
side the historical Buttermilk Creek.
We were presently startled by great
buster in the patches of bushes,
grass and weeds just ahead OF US.
Then came n sharp rattle OF wings,
and q wildly disturbed mother grouse
with ricocheting fight swept across
the stream and Disappeared IN the
dense underground on the opposite
side. Hustling up a bit we beheld
three or four downy, diminutive balls
of electricity losing their identity
under convenient leaves and snarls OF
grass.
One plucky chick, however, with
its trifing spike-like pinions beating
The air spitefully, tambled ag-
gressiyely into the water, which at
this point was rather swift aud deep,
and swan as lightly IS tippet Of
thistIedown to tiny island climbed
hard and fast out in midstre3m. The
brave little chap scratched ierociously
to make a landing, task it had
scarcely accomplished ere the anxious
parent, all unGindful of unwelcome
intruders, dashed to the rescue with
a denonstratiye but intensely reassur-
ing gabble. With wings cutstrc ched,
eyes afame, and every feather bristl-
ing in defensive array, this wild
mother OF the woodland appealed to
the party standing in mute
astonishment within few steps of
her, a magnificent picture Of heroic
mother love and intrepid daring. For
a moment, as if challenging us 10 ap-
proach nearer, mann. ma grouse
maintained this position, tEen with
tLunderous filt of wings and a
peculiar low cluckling call which
vigi,ant baby grouse seemed to per
fectly understand, she buried herself
in nearby tlicket, to be fol,oWel an
instant later by her fuzzy bat sinewy
offspring.
Tbs reminds me that nay first ac-
uuaintance with the noble ru1ed
grouse was made when, rs a bare
legged schoolboy scarce SIX hands
high, as the hose trader might say,
/ s cceede3, III company with a couple
Of other lads, in capturing TITO of
birds Just out of their nest. The soft,
fluffy mites of life, even then thrilling
with the uncorquerable wiIdnoss OF
their kind, were app etizing morseIs
Of wonderment to the freckIed, sun
Drowned Grchius from the uuGign!Ecd
scbooo house, low a"cEing on the hill
side above. 81 much So, Indeed, that
we patiently toilcd MP the long, green
lane, blazing hot under the spring
sunsh.re, with or precious charges
carefully enscouced within the hollow
of hands held gently together, to the
birch welding astyaca o the aforesaid
seat Of Icaruinn. Af,er little space
in re ellious imitation OF the general,
who marched up the bill and then
marched down again, three dis
appointed youngsters sot their faces
toward the lower end OF the green
lane chargo>, with The duty oi safely
re.urning their fea.hered ca tlyes to
a shreNd namma'8 ca"e.
When the last tiny, satin Garbel
hedging had twinklel II the light for
an instant as it made lis plunge into