RUFFED GROUSE. 79 



of enemies of the air, such as Hawks and Owls, it is diffi- 

 cult to explain, unless it is on the principle of doing one 

 thing at a time, if it is to be done well. The adult Ruffed 

 Grouse feeds on various kinds of nuts, acorns, all sorts 

 of berries in their season (some of them even of the 

 poisonous kind, such as the sumach), and wild grapes, 

 and, when these fail, eats the foliage of many plants, such 

 as wintergreen, buttercup, partridge berry, etc. In the 

 winter the food consists mainly of buds of the apple, the 

 two birches, and other trees. 



The males of this species keep apart after the breeding 

 season is over, joining the coveys toward winter. This 

 species bears the cold well, its feathered coat, carried 

 down the leg to the heel, affording ample protection 

 against the severity of the weather. When the snow 

 covers the ground, or during a snowstorm, this bird is 

 in the habit of diving headlong into the drifts toward 

 evening, where it remains frequently entirely covered up, 

 warm and snug, during the night, and flying out again 

 at daybreak. But if during the night a crust should 

 form upon the snow the poor Grouse is imprisoned and 

 frequently dies of hunger, as escape is impossible unless 

 a thaw speedily comes. 



Its flesh, as is well known, is white and tender, but 

 in the late fall or winter becomes very bitter occasionally, 

 on account of the bird having fed on the leaves of the 

 alder, and to many persons is then quite poisonous. In 

 spite of the persistency with which this Grouse is hunted, 

 and the vast number yearly taken in snares, it is still 

 quite plentiful in many parts of its dipersion, and it 

 would be sad indeed if unbridled persecution and 

 avarice should ever cause its extermination, for then 

 would disappear one of the noblest game birds known 

 in our land. 



