THE RUFFED GROUSE. 201 



But all woods do not suit the fastidious taste of this 



beauty for when there exists only the fat, damp, slimy 



bottom lands that margin so many of the south-western 



rivers, he is not to be found. No rolling country and 



hilly spurs are his home, where, deep in the shelter 



of the laurel, cedar, hemlock, hazel and birch, he 



can laugh at his pursuers unless they are the very 



quickest and best of shots. But I allude to where he 



has known man and learned to dread his presence 



as ominous of evil, for when such is not the case, if 



flushed they are often satisfied to settle upon the 



first tree in the neighbourhood, regarding the intruder 



with looks of wonder, and remain gratifying their 



excited curiosity till the whole covey have been shot in 



detail. Throughout Canada West they are numerous. 



At the northern end of Lake Sirncoe I found them 



vei\y abundant, also on the hill sides that cradle in the 



lovely, peaceful Lake Umbagog in Oxford County, 



Maine but western Maryland and Virginia are also 



favourite haunts in fact it may be found everywhere 



where wood, water, and hill side combine to form for 



it a suitable haunt, between 32 and 50 degrees of 



north latitude. No. 6 shot I prefer for shooting ruffed 



grouse, as from the nature of the ground on which they 



are found, more birds are killed at short range than 



at longer distances. 



The characteristics of the ruffed grouse make 

 them better adapted for a residence in England than 

 the prairie hen ; and so strongly am I disposed in 

 their favour, that I believe if once introduced they 

 would, as soon as known, outrival the pheasant in 

 popularity, being much hardier, swifter on the wing, 

 lying better to dogs, disinclined to run before flushing, 



