BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 165 



clumps of trees, or log shanties, from which the sleepy farmers 

 are just emerging to milk the cows standing in the neighbor- 

 ing barnyard. As it grows lighter, occasional Teal are flushed 

 from little pools beside the road, and flocks of Mallards are ob- 

 served flying over the tall grass of prairie sloughs. Then 

 comes the sun gradually dispelling the mist which hangs low 

 in early morning, and warming the rather chilly air. Before 

 us stretch the hunting grounds, large wheat fields, from 

 which the grain has been removed, interspersed with meadows 

 of tall grass, numerous "sloughs," and farm houses where lo- 

 cations are marked by rows of cottonwood trees. The driver 

 turns into the stable, there is a loading of guns, and the dogs 

 are let out of the wagon, two at a time in order that they may 

 not all tire before the day's sport is ended. 



"These creatures, at whom the day before, we grumbled for 

 being under foot and who stalked gloomily about with droop 

 ing tails and ears, today are transformed into different beings, 

 and have our pleasure in their own noses. Away they go, 

 coursing the stubble from right to left and vice versa, at a mo- 

 tion of the master's hand. Mark! One has stopped. He is 

 eagerly sniffing the ground, picking his way carefully along, 

 while his tail in rapid motion shows his excitement. The 

 other dog soon sees his companion's agitation and hastening to 

 him, catches the scent of the covey. Then both their tails go- 

 ing round and round they push slowly on, step by step until 

 suddenly the foremost dog stops, his head turned a little to one 

 side and his nose pointing downward. His tail has suddenly be- 

 come rigid. The other, the younger of the two, being some- 

 what of a tyro, and this being the first of the season, has in his 

 eagerness run too close to a chicken and when the bird flies up 

 from under his nose, the startled dog gazes after him and then 

 turns his head toward the wagon to see what action his master 

 will take. If he could hear his master's remarks at that mo- 

 ment he certainly would blush, if a dog could blush, with 

 shame. But he has found another and both dogs now stand 

 like marble statues, while we. all four, jump from the wagon 

 and with ready guns advance toward them amid cries of ' 'steady 

 Don, steady there? Hold him Grouse, steady sir!" Two are 

 to shoot the birds on the right as they rise, two will take the 

 birds on the left. Suddenly one of the covey, an old cock gets 

 up— a report— a few feathers floating on the morning air, and 

 the bird falls to the ground, where it soon flutters out its life. 

 This generally startles the rest of the birds and they rise in a 



