THE CANADA GROUSE. 101 



They may be met with on all the paths and roads lead- 

 ing through the forests, as they are fond of frequenting 

 such jjlaces for the purpose of picking up any grain left 

 by horses, and revelling in dust-baths. When a pack is 

 engaged in this latter amusement, it is surrounded by 

 clouds of dust, for each works away with a will, and 

 clucks its sense of enjoyment as it forces its body 

 through the light, loose soil, and scatters it in showers 

 over the back. If they are disturbed while taking a 

 bath, they, like all the gallinaceous tribe, rise with a 

 loud whirr that is not unlike the sound of a whirlwind, 

 but at other times they merely walk into the shrubbery, 

 and return to their bath as soon as the cause of their 

 alarm has passed on. They lie well to a dog, and, when 

 treed, may stand a dozen shots before they attempt to 

 seek safer quarters. They do not squat on the branches, 

 but stand erect, and peer vigilantly from side to side; 

 yet, so closely do they resemble the foliage, that one 

 might mistake them for knots on the boughs, even when 

 they are not very high up. 



Their bravery, so far as standing fire is concerned, is 

 proverbial, for they pay no attention to the leaden hail, 

 unless it should bring some of the uppermost tumbling 

 down, and then all fly away with a startling whirr, and 

 give the sportsman an opportunity of bagging a few on 

 the wing. The great difficulty, however, is to rout 

 them, for they will often stand firing until every one in 

 the tree is killed. I have frequently tried to scare them 

 into flight by shouting, and pelting them with stones, 

 but without avail, so I had to pick them off or do with- 

 out them. 



A very good dog for working them up on the gi-ound 

 is a rough-coated red terrier, trained to their pursuit, for 

 as soon as it sees them it gives tongue, and following 

 them to their place of refuge, keeps barking about it 

 until the hunter arrives, when he may easily bag them. 



