48 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



threw up its broad fluft'y tail, exposing the snow- 

 white hair of the undersnrface, and looking for 

 all the world like an African reedbuck. 



On October 3rd we returned to the little lake 

 where I had shot the moose two days previously. 

 On our way there I heard a ruffed grouse 

 drumming, and creeping close up to it, watched 

 it displaying itself on a fallen tree. Ultimately 

 I cut its head off with a '303 bullet, as I thought 

 it would make a welcome addition to my larder. 

 It was a very handsome cock bird with a fine 

 ruff of black feathers round the neck. 



I thought it ver}^ curious that a ruffed grouse 

 should be drumming at this time of the j^ear, 

 as I had imagined that, as in the case of 

 European game birds, such manifestations 

 were only indulged in during the breeding 

 season, but George told me that ruffed grouse 

 may often be heard druinming in the autumn 

 during fine weather. In the evening we again 

 called for moose, but got no answer and saw 

 nothing. During the night it rained a little, 

 and the weather l^ecame quite warm and 

 muggy. 



