CHAPTER V. 



THE DUSKY GROUSE. 



The Dusky Grouse— Its various names — Size, weight, and color— Char 

 acter of flesh — A handsome bird — The courting song — A feath- 

 ered veutriloquist— How to find its retreat — Nesting — Unsuspicious 

 mothers — Tame chickens— Food— Restless disposition of the birds 

 — Favorite haunts — Do not pack — Are wild in winter — Their habit 

 of squatting — Abundant beyond the Rocky Mountains— Indian 

 superstition concerning thera — Different varieties — A visit to Lake 

 Cosur d'Alene — Magnificent sceneiy — An aerial drama— Flymg 

 contest between an osprey and an eagle — Philosophizing on human 

 nature and bird nature — A night scene— Cries of wild animals— In 

 the forest— Death of a stag and a doe — Maternal feeling of the 

 latter — Superstitions about bears — How to cook deer heads and 

 bear meat — Indian visitors — Hunting the grouse — Their method of 

 concealment — A confidant bird — A large bag — Abundance of troul 

 — How to cook them — Searching for a lost punster — A wolf sere- 

 nade — A varied gamebag— Spearing trout — A feast in the wilder- 

 ness — A mountain storm — A delightful reminiscence. 



The Dusky Grouse {Canace oiscura), Avhicli is placed 

 in the sub-genus De7idragapus, is known by various 

 names in different parts of the country — such as the 

 blue, gray, mountain, and jnne grouse, hill cock and 

 cock of the woods, and, in a few places, as the fool-hen, 

 from its peculiarly unsuspicious nature — ranks high as a 

 table-bird, its white flesh being tender, succulent, and of 

 a delicate flavor. It is larger than any of the grouse, ex- 

 cept the sage cock, an adult male weighing about three 

 pounds and a half when in prime condition. It is dark- 

 ish in color; the tail is brownish-black, but is more or 

 less marked with gray, and has a broad, slate-gray, ter- 

 minal bar — a characteristic not seen in the other species. 

 The back and Avings are dark-brown, finely undulated 

 with irregular, slate-gray feathers, mixed with ochreous 

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