io Reminiscences of 



The hen partridge is very courageous in the de- 

 fence of her tender young, and I have more than 

 once been amused by seeing my pet collie who has 

 more gentlemanly qualities than most dogs chased 

 out of sight by an enraged partridge mother, sur- 

 prised with her young. Several times in the Maine 

 woods I have warded off with my hands the sudden 

 attacks of a hen partridge when so surprised, and in 

 those solitary forests, where human beings are not 

 often seen, I have often watched for some minutes 

 a clucking cock partridge strolling about me, ob- 

 livious of any danger. They are often snared in 

 Maine woods by boys, with moderately long poles 

 with nooses attached. A feature I have also ob- 

 served has been the increasing tameness of these 

 birds about the sunset hour, more evident than at 

 any other time. 



For several years I had one frequent my fishing 

 residence at the Rangeley Lakes, which would bud 

 on the poplar in front, and made free with the store- 

 room and woodshed, and would feed on the food 

 thrown out. 



The spruce partridge of Maine is a bird still tamer 

 than the ruffed grouse, but is not of pleasant flavor, 

 though beautiful in plumage. It inhabits the swamps 

 and spruce trees, taking its flavor from the latter. 



The sage cock of the great plains is another of the 

 grouse family which is not of agreeable eating flavor, 

 being tainted with the brush it inhabits and feeds on. 

 This bird has the distinguishing feature of being un- 

 like any of the grouse family, being gizzardless, hav- 

 ing no muscular development of that character, but 

 a membranous sac in its place. 



