UPLAND SHOOTING. 



57 



and swampy places, and are remarkably attached to dry ground. 

 The low and open brush is preferred to high and shrubby thick- 

 ets. Into these latter places they lly for refuge, when closely 

 pressed by the hunters ; and here, under a stiff and impenetrable 

 cover, they escape the pursuit of dogs and men. Water is so 

 seldom met with on the true GROusE-ground, that it is necessary 

 to carry it along for the pointers to drink. The tlights of Grouse 

 are short, but sudden, rapid and whirring. 1 have not heard of 

 any success in taming them. They seem to resist all attempts at 

 domestication In this, as well as in many other respects, they 

 resemble the Quail of j\ew York, or the Partridgk of Penn- 

 sylvania 



'.' Planners. — During the period of mating, and while the fe- 

 males are occupied in incubation, the males have a practice of 

 assembling principally by themselves. To some select and cen- 

 tral spot, where there is very little underwood, they repair from 

 the adjoining district. From the exercises performed there, 

 this is called a scratching-place. The time of meeting is the 

 break of day. As soon as the light appears, the company as- 

 sembles from every side, sometimes to the number of forty or 

 fifty. When the dawn is passed, the ceremony begins by a low 

 tooting from one of the cocks. This is answered by another. 

 They then come forth, one by one, from the bushes, and strut 

 about with all the pride and ostentation they can display. Their 

 necks are incurvated, the feathers on them are erected into a sort 

 of ruff; the plumes of the tails are expanded like fans ; they 

 strut about in a style resembling, as nearly as small may be il- 

 lustrated by great, the pomp of the Turkey-Cock. They seem 

 to vie Avith each other in stateliness, and, as they pass each other, 

 frequently cast looks of insult and utter notes of defiance. These 

 are the signals for battles. They engage with wonderful spirit 

 and fierceness. During these contests, they leap a foot or two 

 from the ground, and utter a cackling, screaming and discordant 

 cry. They have been found in these places of resort even earlier 

 than the appearance of light in the east. This fact leads to the 

 belief, that a part of them assemble over night. The rest join them 



