8 FEATHERED GAME 



civilization these, with the ptarmigans, will 

 probably be the last of our grouse to be exter- 

 minated. At present their only disturber is the 

 hunter of big game who may want a showy 

 "bird piece" for his dining room. It is a very 

 pretty fowl for such a purpose, too, but the 

 sportsman rarely kills more than the pair 

 needed, for at that season their table qualities 

 are not such as to induce him to put in the last 

 day of his stay in camp in shooting the heads 

 off Spruce Grouse to supply a toothsome mor- 

 sel for friends at home, as he generally does 

 with the ruffed grouse. 



During a snowstorm the Spruce Grouse usu- 

 ally flies up into the densest clump of spruce or 

 fir trees in the neighborhood, and under their 

 thick, arching branches, snow-laden and bend- 

 ing, he finds shelter from the weather and food 

 in abundance. He may not leave the tree for 

 several days if undisturbed and the storm con- 

 tinues. The question of temperature troubles 

 him little, and with his wants all provided for, 

 the Spruce Grouse is more independent in his 

 mode of life than any of his feathered neighbors, 

 for when other birds are scurrying about for 

 something to eat and perhaps going hungry, 



