PTARMIGAN. 217 



good intentions towards them cannot fail to endear them to 

 him. Thus, I have never shot the ptarmigan but with 

 regret, for here you have no crafty game, to accomplish 

 whose destruction you must call into play all the cunning 

 of your nature. 



They unquestionably rank among the game of America, 

 or I should have left them unnoticed. So if the sportsman, 

 through my instructions, should visit their habitat, let 

 him, pray, desist from useless slaughter. 



