132 The Grouse Family 



in this country, understand how much a conspic- 

 uous tail may mislead an eye trained to accuracy 

 on short-tailed game. The writer is a stanch 

 believer in the value of holding well ahead of all 

 angling and crossing game of whatever species. 

 Not one in one hundred is missed through over- 

 leading, for even when the gun is inches too far 

 in advance, a single diverging pellet may yet 

 prove deadly, because, if it touches any part of 

 the quarry, that part is apt to be of the head, the 

 neck, the region of the heart, or a wing. 



So many writers have referred to the noisy 

 flush of the ruffed grouse, that the belief is 

 prevalent that the bird always rises upon loud- 

 sounding pinions. This is erroneous. When 

 unalarmed, the bird rises without any noticeable 

 whirring. 



SOME GLIMPSES OF GROUSING 



The best ruffed grouse shooting the writer has 

 enjoyed has been in the grand covers of Wiscon- 

 sin, Michigan, and western Ontario, the merits 

 of the grounds ranking in order as named. The 

 most difficult sport was in the Red River Valley, 

 the mighty growths of British Columbia, and the 

 mountains of Pennsylvania. Let us take a peep 

 at each in turn. 



Imagine a long, easy, sun-kissed slope in the 

 most beautiful section of the magnificent " Badger 



