392 LAXD-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



wherever the birds are not suspicious of man, they often take 

 to a tree, if pursued by a j'elping cur or spaniel, and, appa- 

 rently in a state of stupid wonder, allow the sportsman to walk 

 up and shoot them. Except in the wilderness, however, it has 

 never been m}^ good fortune to have a covey wait, while, be- 

 ginning with the lowest on the tree, I might shoot them one by 

 one. This undoubtedly is and can be done, if the birds are 

 wholl}' unsophisticated, but I caution young sportsmen against 

 too firm a belief and too high hopes founded on such reports. 

 Even with the very best of dogs, the newest kind of breech- 

 loader, the very acme of skill, and an abundance of birds, it 

 is ver}' rarelj' the case that a good bag is made. The birds 

 seldom lie well to a dog, but steal away so rapidly on foot, that, 

 if the dog is slow and staunch, they get awa}^ altogether, or, if 

 the dog follows at an equal pace, it is generally impossible, 

 owing to the thickness of the cover, for you to follow at the 

 same rate. Again, half of the birds, when startled, get into a 

 tree, and one can see them neither in the tree nor when they 

 leave it. So on with one vexation after another throughout 

 the early season. As the leaves drop, the birds become more 

 shy and wary, getting up, often silently, instead of with their 

 usual whirr, at long distances, and often flying with immense 

 rapidity. Yet it is a pleasure to kill thera. They fall with a 

 satisfactory thud, they fill up one's bag, and are a very good 

 addition to the larder. A few lucky chances at these seduc- 

 tive birds often inveigle the old and sagacious sportsman into 

 trying them once more, though they all declare that the " Par- 

 tridges " ought not to be ranked among game-birds. Sometimes, 

 after a full of light snow, tlie sportsman may pursue them suc- 

 cessfully without a dog. He maj^ also occasionally have good 

 luck with a dog, on an exceptionally cold autumn morning, 

 when the birds are more sluggish than usual. 



The Ruffed Grouse feed throughout the summer on various 

 small fruits and berries, and upon such insects as come in their 

 way. They eat also small acorns, blackberries, grapes, and 

 beech-nuts. On the arrival of snow, they begin to feed on the 

 buds of various trees and shrubs ; among others upon one or 



