130 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



where it is impossible to get at them, remaining perfectly still 

 until the danger is over. When the birds are scarce one must be 

 lively to bring them to bag. When started on a hill they fly for 

 its base, and then turn usually to the right or left very short, and 

 very few sportsmen understand their flight. 



In the far West they lie much better in the early part of Sep- 

 tember, but in Nev/ England they lie best in December. The 

 flesh of this bird is tender and delicious, though much of its ex- 

 cellence depends upon the cooking. Of course, if the cook is not 

 scientific the delicacy is lost. You can make it tough and dry, or 

 juicy. If the nets and nooses, traps and pot-hunters were attended 

 to in the early season, this bird would be very soon abundant in 

 every State. 



The human voice will often cause this species to rise at the 

 distance of one hundred yards. We have known a single word to 

 flush a brood. On their feeding grounds they act very like the 

 woodcock. When preparing for his flight, the bird generally 

 walks from six to ten feet, very erect and stately, with his tail 

 spread fan-like, and in an instant he is off with a whirr one 

 does not forget. Though generally difficult to approach, they will 

 sometimes lie very close, and then rise almost from under yoiu- 

 feet. Their flight is from one hundred and fifty to two hundred 

 and fifty yards. One very singular fact is, that you seldom find 

 the brood two days successively in the same neighborhood. It is 

 the most difificult of all the game birds to kill, often dropping dead 

 after an extended flight, and when wounded it is difficult to find, 

 hiding in holes and hollow tree trunks, and frequently baffling the 

 best retrievers and the patience of the most persevering sportsman. 

 None but those who have a steady nerve, quick eye, and good 

 judgment of distances, will ever be able to make a large bag. 

 This species is sometimes hunted with Cockers instead of setters, 

 and we believe with most satisfactory results. 



What a pity it is that we have not distinctive popular names of 

 our native game birds. The Ruffed Grouse is called " Partridge " 

 in New England and New York, and " Pheasant " in the Middle, 

 Western and Southern States. Our choice little Bob White, who, 

 in spite of all his enemies, will remain and increase as cultivation 

 widens, for he loves the field better than the forest, is called 



