266 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



portion of the Androscogan River being wild and 

 broken in the extreme. 



We have scarcely ever threaded this part of 

 our journey without seeing ruffed grouse, and fre- 

 quently Canada grouse, one of the most beautiful of 

 the indigenous birds, and resembling more closely than 

 any of the American family the red grouse of Scotland ; 

 the deep scarlet iris, the rich, dark chestnut colouring 

 of both are similar ; but they are totally opposed to one 

 another in habits of life, the one preferring the open, 

 heather-covered mountain slopes- wild as a hawk, 

 unless when engaged with family cares the other, 

 thoughtless and careless of danger, and never seen 

 away from the densest retreats of the woods. So tame 

 are the Canada grouse that, during my residence 

 in Maine, I knew one of the hotel proprietor's sons to 

 catch an old cock-bird, by slipping a noose, attached to 

 the end of a stick, over its head. But our promenade 

 is near an end. The woods appear less dense as we 

 advance, and soon the flag, that floats over the shanty 

 which is to be our future dormitory, appears in view, 

 with the placid waters of Richardson Lake close by, 

 while numerous irregular hills, all clothed with pine 

 timber to the summit, form the background. 



Generally this beautiful lake is smooth as glass, 

 without a ripple, excepting what may be caused by the 



