THE RUFFED GROUSE. 161 



which her family thoroughly understands, and on hearing 

 it they scatter and rush for shelter among the grass and 

 shrubbery, while she exposes herself to the foe, and by a 

 capital piece of strategy leads it away from the covert. 



If a man is the object of her suspicion she pretends to 

 be crippled, flutters helplessly amidst the weeds, and 

 utters lamentable cries, as if she were suffering the 

 greatest pain; but if he makes an effort to seize her she 

 eludes him in the promptest manner, and when she 

 thinks she has drawn him far enough away, she rises 

 suddenly, and with a loud whirr and a chuckling cry, 

 which might be translated as "sold agaiu," she darts 

 away and seeks refuge in the forest depths until she can 

 rejoin her scattered brood in safety. The novice is likely 

 to gaze after her rapidly retreating form in amazement 

 and to wonder at her duplicity; and if he does not repeat 

 her parting salute aloud, he is very liable to think it, and 

 to consider that she was perfectly right in her statement. 

 She may be able to imj)ose on a person's confidence once 

 or twice by this manceuvre, but not more, as he soon 

 learns to appreciate her distressed condition at its true 

 worth, and to act accordingly. 



The males, like those of the domestic fowl, are polyg- 

 amous, and generally have from four to six hens under 

 their protection; but they soon tire of them, apparently, 

 for they manifest no inclination to help them in looking 

 after the chicks, preferring to spend their time in luxuri- 

 ous ease in company with other clubablc bachelors, or 

 rather temporary widowers. These bachelor parties break 

 up about the last of August or first of September, when 

 the chicks are able to fly well, and the males rejoin the 

 mothers and their interesting young families, and remain 

 with them until they are bagged by the sportsman or tlie 

 broods set up house-keeping for themselves. The hawks 

 are great enemies of the chickens, and minks, weasels, 

 and foxes dance attendance upon the adults, and even 



