WILLOW GROUSE. 91 



but for use, as my companions and I were really 

 hungry. 



The birds which I shot were almost entirely 

 white, and in a very short time would have 

 assumed their fuU winter plumage. In the 

 summer their general colour on the head, neck, 

 and upper parts is yellowish-brown, the flight- 

 feathers alone remaining white. 



On reaching our former camping-place we 

 found that the tents had been shifted to a higher 

 piece of ground, and we soon learnt from the 

 cook, who had been left in charge, that the 

 river had risen so high immediately after the 

 great rain that it had overflowed its banks and 

 converted the ground on which our tents had 

 been pitched into a lake. Fortunately our cook 

 was equal to the occasion, and very sensibly 

 transferred all our belongings, including the 

 tents, to the boat. 



I still had a sufficient supply of provisions 

 for another week's trip, but came to the con- 

 clusion that it was scarcely worth while under- 

 taking it, since Stroud gave it as his opinion 

 that, with the exception of a few stragglers, all 



