102 THE GAME BIRDS 
This great bird is a native of the Rocky 
Mountains, the darker varieties known as 
Richardson's and Sooty Grouse occupying the 
northern limits. 
From all that I can gather from my corre- 
spondents in relation to its habits, it seems to 
be a somewhat stupid, lazy bird, not easily 
flushed, but a strong, rapid flyer, when 
startled; frequenting the high coniferous 
trees during the most of the year. From all 
accounts, it affords but comparatively poor 
sport, aside from its great size and abundance, 
as it must be shot while sitting, and it appears 
to have the ability to so adjust itself upon 
the limbs as to almost completely hide from 
the gaze of the observer. One correspondent 
tells of killing six by throwing stones at 
them, and another of shooting them out of 
the high trees 100 feet from the ground. In 
some places they are shot when flushed, and, 
in the other instances, they should afford 
good sport with a rifle. 
115. CANADA GROUSE. 
SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. 
Dendragapus canadensis. 
Prevailing color of adult male, black, 
lighter on the back, waved and spotted with 
white and tawny. ‘Tail of 14 to 18 feathers 
tipped with brown. The female and imma- 
ture male are somewhat lke the above on the 
back, but not so dark, and the under side is 
