UPLAND SHOOTING. » 



vinces ; while it is, I fear, scarcely less apparent that neither its 

 numbers nor its manners will ever, in probability, allow it to be 

 pursued successfully for the purposes of sport. 



In one respect only I must venture to differ from the great 

 authority and venerable man, whom I have quoted above ; and 

 this on a point only whereon the least scientific may be allowed 

 to differ from the o[)inions of the wisest; since it is admitted 

 everywhere that dc <jii.s(ibiis non est disputandmn. Mr. Audubon 

 says that in winter tiie ilesh is bitter and disagreeable. I have 

 eaten it in winter, and then only, and while I must admit the 

 almost resinous aromatic bitterness^ I venture to pronounce it 

 delicious in the extreme ; and I believe that all epicures in game 

 will agree with me — all those, I mean, who prefer the back 

 bone and thighs of the Ruffed Grouse of America, or the jNIoor- 

 fowl of the British Isles, to the tamer white meat of the breast. 

 European readers will understand the flavor I allude to, when I 

 state that it closely resembles that of the Capercaillie, as import- 

 ed from Norway in the winter season. 



With this species I shall conclude my notice of the Grouse 

 Tetraonidce of America, since the Willow Ptarmigan, Tetrao 

 SaUceti^ " Red-necked Partridge,^'' is so very rare that it really 

 cannot be included under the head of Game, even that indefati- 

 gable explorer, IMr. Audubon, having failed to discover it 

 within the limits of the States, although he expresses his con- 

 viction that " it exists in the State of Maine, as well as in the 

 Northern Districts bordering on the great lakes." 



For the benefit of those who desire to be informed, and to 

 learn the distinctions between Grouse, Pheasant, and Partridge, 

 neither of the latter species existing in America, I will state sim- 

 ply and briefly that all Grouse are feathered on the legs, below 

 the termination of the thigh, some quite to the toe nails. The 

 Ruffed Grouse is feathered below the knee — the Pinnated and 

 Canada Grouse to the ancles — the Willow Grouse to the claws. 

 Of many generic marks this is the most decided. No game- 

 bird but the Grouse is feathered below the knee, and he always. 



