154 The Grouse Family 



An exceedingly pretty, but, from the sporting 

 point of view, a practically useless bird. It is 

 found throughout most of the forested regions of 

 Canada, from the Atlantic to the eastern slopes 

 of the Rockies, thence northward to the vicinity 

 of Kadiak, Alaska ; and also through the north- 

 ern portions of the northern tier of states to the 

 Rockies. It prefers dense growths of spruce and 

 fir, and swamps of tamarack. It is a hardy bird, 

 but so gentle and confiding as to appear stupid. 

 It is usually seen in small companies, as if one 

 brood, and is common in the vicinity of the old 

 portages and trails made by the lumberman and 

 fur-trader. The writer has twice caught mature 

 specimens with his bare hands, and it is a com- 

 mon trick of woodsmen to decapitate a bird with 

 a switch, or noose it with a bit of twine. Once 

 the writer came precious near hooking one with a 

 trout fiy, at which the grouse had pecked. Only 

 a dislike to needless cruelty, and a respect for a 

 fine rod, saved this particular bird. Quite often 

 the brood is met with in the trail, when they will 

 sedately step aside about sufficiently far to make 

 room for the intruder s boots, meanwhile regard- 

 ing him with a laughable air of affectionate inter- 

 est. No doubt this grouse could fly rapidly should 

 it choose to exert its powers, but it is content with 

 more leisurely movements. The flesh is very dark, 

 and even when at its best is fit only for a hungry 



