SPRUCE GROUSE 3 



the northern swamps. At this time their flesh 

 becomes very dark and to most palates is un- 

 pleasantly bitter. It is but justice to say, how- 

 ever, that under like conditions the flesh of the 

 ruffed grouse is little better. There are those 

 who claim to prefer this flavor — this strong re- 

 minder of the spruce tops. If, then, your 

 friends should speak ill of the table qualities of 

 either of these fowls, be sure that they have 

 been experimenting with some winter bird 

 whose unchanging and long-continued fare of 

 spruce buds has not been the ''sweet savour" 

 best suiting your epicure's taste. Let us con- 

 fine ourselves, then, to the legitimate hunting 

 season and we shall have no such bitter gastro- 

 nomical disappointments. I have seen men eat 

 Spruce Grouse twice a day for a week in Octo- 

 ber with relish unabated at the end of the time, 

 nor did they think themselves much abused 

 thereby. 



As is the habit of the family their nests are 

 built upon the ground ; a tiny hollow lined with 

 dry leaves and moss, protected from the 

 weather and shielded from view by the over- 

 hanging boughs of spruce or fir tree. They lay 

 from ten to eighteen eggs, — commonly nearer 



