200 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



apparently, on different birds. This pleasing inci- 

 dent revived our drooping spirits, and with steady, 

 regular stride we approached them. When we got 

 up, three birds flushed, which were immediately cut 

 down ; still another, and another, met the same fate ; 

 and in less than five minutes nine were on the ground. 

 These were without difficulty retrieved, and the dogs 

 ordered on to find more ; scarce a hundred yards had 

 they ranged when they a second time found game, the 

 slut leading and the dog just at her shoulder, backing. 

 It was perfectly evident that we had discovered the 

 retreat of the prairie chickens : water or solitude had 

 'undoubtedly caused them to assemble here. 



Soon we got to the dogs, and never in the course of 

 my experience did I see a sharper half hour's work. 

 Bird after bird rose, and was knocked over : scarcely 

 had we time to thrust into the breeches fresh cartridges 

 before we were called upon to deliver our fire ; not less 

 than a hundred and fifty birds must have been flushed in 

 that space of time, out of which number nearly half fell 

 to our guns. At one moment, over twenty were on the 

 ground, waiting to be picked up ; and, better than all, 

 we did not lose a single cripple, although one old cock, 

 which had only been pinioned, cost us some minutes' 

 labour before being bagged. 



BUFFED GROUSE. 



Contrary to the last-described species, this worthy 

 member of a noble family loves the woodland glades 

 and rocky lull sides. The verge of the prairie he may 

 occasionally visit, but let him be disturbed, his fears 

 excited, like arrow from bow he will .wing his way 

 direct to the friendly shelter of the forest. 



