American Game 163 



in the mountains in all the little pine and fir groves, 

 and are not nearly as plentiful as the others. 



Of the feathered game there are sharp-tailed grouse, 

 ruffed grouse, blue grouse, Richardson's grouse, dusky 

 grouse, and Franklin grouse (commonly called fool- 

 hen). Of geese, the Canada goose is the most com- 

 mon. There are some brant. Duck are very abundant : 

 the most common are mallard, widgeon, teal, buffie- 

 head, bluebill, pintail, green-winged teal, blue-winged 

 teal, and cinnamon teal. Swan are plentiful, many 

 being killed each year. 



The mountain-grouse is one of the most abundant 

 game-birds in this state. It may be found early in the 

 season, low down or at the foot of the mountain where 

 it comes to breed. It remains there to rear its young 

 until the first snow comes, which is generally in Septem- 

 ber, when it moves up to snow line, and as the season 

 advances moves still farther up, and in winter seems to 

 exist entirely on pine burs. In the early part of the 

 season it can be found at almost any wild-berry patch ; 

 the wild choke-cherry especially is relished by it. 

 The young are easily shot, in the early part of the 

 season. They are then slow to take wing, but they soon 

 grow wary, and when scared up will alight in heavy 

 pine or fir trees, where they lie very close to some limb 

 and are not easily found by the novice. 



The sage-hen is very abundant in most parts of the 

 state where sage is plentiful. As the name indicates, 

 they get their food from young sage-brush, and in 

 winter exist altogether on the same, hence are not very 

 palatable if not prepared rightly. This bird is very 

 amusing in many instances, as, for example, when 



