85 



again, and we had just passed the stepping stones when with a familiar 

 whir-r-r a partridge flew across followed by another and another and 

 another to the number of nine. A couple of these birds was secured for 

 suppei', and while preparing them for the pan I found in the crop of one, 

 four fresh clover leaves. This, I think, shows why partridge are to be 

 found most plentifully along the roads leading to the shanties of lumber- 

 men, for experience has proved that you can always get a better day's 

 Sj^jovt by keeping on these roads than by going into the thick bush. The 

 reason is clear as it is only along these roads, over which the hay for the 

 horses of the lumbermen is drawn during the winter, that clover is to 

 be found. Speaking about shanties I would like to know why almost 

 invariably an old shanty is surrounded by a raspben-y patch 1 Why 

 should raspberries grow on these open spots to the exclusion of hazel, 

 dogroses and other und rgrowth 1 To return to the partridge. Thei'e 

 are two kinds very common in our woods. The oi'dinary wood partridge 

 or ruffed grouse and the spruce partiidge or Canadian grouse. 

 They ai-e especially noted for two attributes, both truly feminine ; 

 their afiectionate care of their young and their great cviriosity. 

 When a stranger approaches a brood the old ones with dis- 

 cordant cries flutter along through the bush only just out of reach, as 

 though wounded, in order to draw attention from the young ones, and 

 tlien when you have followed them some distance and they consider 

 their young safe, they throw off the wounded appearance and fly away. 

 A stoi'y is told of a brood of little partridge being attacked by a carrion 

 crow and the old birds nifde such a good fight that they not only beat 

 the crow but held him there until he was taken from them by a spec- 

 tator. As to their curiosity, if you come upon them in the woods and 

 imitate the barking of a dog, or whistle, they will strut along the log or 

 remain quiet on the branch, moving their heads from side to side until 

 you approach quite close or throw something at them. 



On passing through the narrow exit I have before spoken of and 

 entering Lower Trout Lake we found ourselves in quite a different coun_ 

 try. All the rounded hills of hardwood with their autumnal tints were 

 gone and in their place the jagged and rocky heights wei'e covered with 

 the light green of second growth poplar and birch, turned in many 

 places to bright yellow, while here and there the tall stems of red and 



