150 The Grouse Family 



is a confusion of shade, amid which the general 

 slaty tone of the plumage is barely distinguishable. 

 A coat of feathers especially designed with a view 

 to protective coloration could not better serve the 

 purpose, and the bird appears to be perfectly 

 aware of this. Indeed, its habit of trusting to its 

 trick of treeing and remaining motionless has 

 earned for it the name of " fool-grouse," which 

 I believe should be applied only to young birds. 

 These unquestionably will tree and foolishly main- 

 tain their positions while their comrades are being 

 shot or clubbed down, but the older birds, except 

 in seldom disturbed localities, are wiser. 



But fool grouse or no, when once the bird con- 

 cludes to start there is no more foolishness. With 

 a nerve-shaking whirring it promptly gets to top 

 speed, and usually darts downhill, a manoeuvre 

 which greatly adds to the difBculty of the shot. 

 When taking wing it cackles like a scared 

 fowl. 



In spite of the bird's penchant for timber it 

 frequently is found in the open and in grain 

 fields. In such places the sportsman may enjoy 

 " blue grouse " shooting as it should be, and sport 

 of a very high order. Then the full strength and 

 speed of the game becomes apparent, and the man 

 who makes uniformly good scores has no reason 

 to fear any ordinary company. I recall several 

 truly delightful experiences, which, even to a gun 



