584 



IE CANADIAN RUFFED GROUSE. 



witlistand tlic charms of the Ocl()I)ei" woods in wliich it lives, wlien the air is 

 cris]) and llie fallen leaves are rustling smartly. The trees are not yet entirely 

 stripi)e(l. liut certain clusters of aspens ha\e great windmus piled abimt their 

 feet, and the car])et of tlie woods is everywhere pregnant with possibilities. 

 The poet feels the o\-erhush i:)f autumn and the gunner the undercrush of 

 leaves, but bolli alike are startled by the first wing-rush of the "Pheasant," 



1^-- 





C.\NADI.\N RUFFKl) C.UOUSE. 



as it bursts from co\er and whirls awa\' like a cyclone to the uttermost parts of 

 the woods. .Mtho the (iruuse knows Ikuv to rise silently on occasion, there is 

 a bravado about the bird which leads it to gi\'e a saucy dare of deafening 

 noise. 



On the drumming log those mar\elous wings which stir the blood like 

 none others, mav l)e heard again : 



