GBOFSE A>rD PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. 249 



Tlie Ruffed Grouse is scattered all over the country east of the 

 Mississippi, where woods now exist, or have previously existed. It 

 is found in cultivated fields, patches of woods, and in the deep 

 forests. Under the influence of moderate protection at the 

 breeding season, it is sufficiently plentiful to afford recompense for 

 the time occupied in pursuing it. It is too well known to need 

 any description, indeed it is so well known and so constantly and 

 persistently hunted, that were it not an exceedingly shy and wary 

 bird, strong of wing, and direct and swift in its flight, it would 

 soon be exterminated. It is a difficult bird to shoot on the wing, 

 especially in woods and thickets, and it requires a practised hand 

 and a quick eye to bring it to bag, except when started by a 

 snapping cur, often trained to " tree" these birds, it takes refuge 

 upon the nearest tree, and giving sole attention to the dog is easily 

 shot by a sharp-eyed hunter, who can distinguish its speckled 

 brown plumage from the similarly colored bark against which it 

 crouches. In the open, it is more easily shot over a setter or a 

 pointer, and in open woods with a good dog, its chase is by no 

 means so unsuccessful as to discourage the sportsman. It must 

 be hit hard, to kill ; and will frequently carry off a load of 

 shot to a considerable distance before it drops. As it rises before 

 the dog it flies off with a loud, sharp whhr, which greatly confuses 

 a novice until he becomes accustomed to it. 



2?ie Pinnated Orouse, or Prairie hen, is abundant from Texaa 

 through all the prairie country northward to Canada, but it 

 has been driven out of the Middle States where it was formerly 

 abundant, in the openings among the timber. Thirty years' slaugh- 

 ter have been sufficient to exterminate this game bird from the 

 Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi River, except in a few localities 

 where now it is gradually disappearing ; when it was formerly so 

 abundant as to feed in the farm yards and appear in the streets of 

 villages. This confiding habit has perhaps led to its general de- 

 struction. The attitude of this bird is not so graceful as that of 

 the ruffed grouse, but its walk is bold and erect. When startled it 

 runs with swiftness until taking wing, or squats until it is flushed. 



In August and September they lie well to a dog, and can be shot 



