PINNATED GROUS. 31 



two from the ground, and utter a cackling, screaming and dis- 

 cordant cry. 



" They have been found in these places of resort even earlier 

 than the appearance of light in the east. This fact has led to the 

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

 them in the morning. This leads to the further belief that they 

 roost on the ground. And the opinion is confirmed by the dis- 

 covery of little rings of dung, apparently deposited by a flock 

 which had passed the night together. After the appearance of 

 the sun they disperse. 



"These places of exhibition have been often discovered by 

 the hunters; and a fatal discovery it has been for the poor 

 Grouse. Their destroyers construct for themselves lurking holes 

 made of pine branches, called bough-houses, within a few yards 

 of the parade. Hither they repair with their fowling-pieces in 

 the latter part of the night, and wait the appearance of the birds. 

 Watching the moment when two are proudly eyeing each other, 

 or engaged in battle; or when a greater number can be seen in 

 a range, they pour on them a destructive charge of shot. This 

 annoyance has been given in so many places, and to such ex- 

 tent, that the Grouse, after having been repeatedly disturbed, 

 are afraid to assemble. On approaching the spot to which their 

 instinct prompts them, they perch on the neighbouring trees, 

 instead of alighting at the scratching place. And it remains to 

 be observed, how far the restless and tormenting spirit of the 

 marksmen, may alter the native habits of the Grouse, and oblige 

 them to betake themselves to new ways of life. 



"They commonly keep together in coveys, or packs, as the 

 phrase is, until the pairing season. A full pack consists of course 

 of ten or a dozen. Two packs have been known to associate. I 

 lately heard of one whose number amounted to twenty-two. 

 They are so unapt to be startled, that a hunter, assisted by a 

 dog, has been able to shoot almost a whole pack, without mak- 

 ing any of them take wing. In like manner the men lying in 

 concealment near the scratching places, have been known to 

 discharge several guns before either the report of the explosion, 



