DUSKY GROUSE. 227 



days. Each morning, before 9 o'clock breakfast, we 

 had killed an ordinary horse-bucket full of trout, and 

 between breakfast and dinner bagged so many grouse 

 that, although w T e mustered, including hunters and escort, 

 some thirty persons, and all ate what they wanted, we 

 yet carried into the post nearly 200 birds, of a weight of 

 almost 1,000 pounds. 



THE DUSKY GKOUSE. 



(Tetrao obscurus.) 



This bird has a variety of names, being called in different 

 parts of the country the 'blue grouse,' the 'black grouse,' 

 and the ' mountain grouse.' He is found almost every- 

 where in the mountainous regions of the Great West, be- 

 tween an altitude of about 6,000 feet and the snow line. 

 As many portions of the plains attain an elevation of from 

 6,000 to 10.000 feet, and are otherwise suited to his 

 habits, he not unfrequently comes in the way of the 

 plains hunter. 



Though a fine large bird, second only to the sage 

 grouse, and most delicious as food, he affords less sport to 

 the hunter than any other of the grouse family. In his 

 habits he differs entirely from other grouse. He is 

 solitary, never being found in packs after the brood has 

 been weaned by the mother bird. He frequents jungles 

 and pine or quaking-asp thickets, will not lie to the 

 dog, nor fly from the hunter. He is usually found on 

 the ground, but when disturbed takes refuge on a branch 

 of the nearest tree, and will sit still though the hunter 

 approach within a few feet. He gives no opportunity for 

 wing shooting, for, if driven from his perch, he seeks 

 another a few feet off, or darts off among the thick 

 branches of the pine in a rapid and tortuous flight 

 sufficient to baffle the quickest aim. 



While the brood is yet with the mother they are to be 



Q 2 



