6 FEATHERED GAME 



of '^fool hen," because, being unacquainted 

 with the kindly ways of man in dealing with 

 his weaker brethren, when an intruder comes 

 into its seldom-troubled domains it will only fly 

 up into the nearest tree to sit craning its neck 

 and staring while the clumsiest bungler that 

 ever pulled trigger may shoot it as it perches, 

 — even staying upon its roost to scold and strut 

 with its tail cocked over its back if the marks- 

 man's first trial should be unsuccessful. Thus 

 does it meet the usual fate of trustful inno- 

 cence. It is well known that in distant regions 

 where little hunted the ruffed grouse will some- 

 times do the same, though I think one would 

 meet with small success in an attempt to take 

 the ''birch partridge" with a slipnoose on the 

 end of a stick, as may often be done with these 

 birds. When the Spruce Partridge has become 

 better acquainted with the gunners, and later 

 generations of hunted grouse have dodged shot 

 among the tree tops until a wholesome fear of 

 man has been implanted in their breasts, they 

 will not fail to meet the demands of the most 

 exacting sportsman or they are no true grouse. 

 A friend tells me of a scene he came upon in 

 Flagstaff, ' ' in the Dead River country, ' ' where a 



