132 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



pains. It is said that they are so unwary and regardless 

 of the near presence of man, that when thus in the imag- 

 iiied shelter of a tree they will permit themselves to be 

 a;)proached, the whole flock shot, or even knocked down 

 with a stick. Sometimes they may be all taken alive, one 

 after the other, by means of a noose affixed to the end of a 

 long pole. According to Audubon, the Canada Grouse in- 

 dicate the approach of rainy weather by retiring to roost 

 at an unusual time in the day, whenever a storm is im- 

 pending. If observed to fly up to their roost at midday, 

 it rarely fViils to rain or snow before the evening; and if, 

 on the contrary, they remain busily engaged in search of 

 food until sunset, the night and following morning are 

 pretty sure to be fresh and clear. The young of this Grouse 

 are very strong and active from the moment they are 

 hatched, and are able to fly at a ver}" earl}" age. When in 

 Labrador, Mr. Audubon almost walked, by accident, upon 

 a female Canada Grouse, surrounded by her young brood. 

 This was about the middle of July. The aff'righted mother, 

 upon perceiving him, ruffled up all her feathers in the 

 manner of the common hen, and advanced close to him as 

 if determined to defend her off'spring. Her distressed con- 

 dition claimed his forbearance, and she was allowed to 

 remain in safet}'. As soon as he retired she smoothed 

 down her plumage and uttered a tender maternal chuck, 

 when the little ones took to their wings- with ease, though 

 they appeared to be not more than one week old. Mr. 

 Audubon found this Grouse moulting as earl}^ as the 

 20th of July. At that period the young were generally 

 already able to fly fully a hundred yards in a single flight. 

 They alighted on low ti'ees and were easily taken alive. 

 This Grouse feeds, in the summer, on berries of various 

 kinds, as well as upon the buds and leaves of several ditter- 

 ent kinds of plants and shrubs. In the autumn they gorge 

 themselves with the berries of Solomon's Seal. At this 

 aeason their flesh is much the best. In the winter, when 

 they feed on the buds of the hackmatack and the spruce 

 and firs, and also upon the leaves of the sj^ruces, as stated 



