194 A Bit of Grouse Hunter's Lore. 



the hazels. No slipshod stepper ever made 

 such marks. So clear, so well defined, so 

 mathematical a track is indicative only of 

 such character as belongs to the noblest 

 of all game birds, and perhaps the boy will 

 hear from him in a moment. No ! there 

 is where he strutted ; and there are the 

 concentric segments of circles made by the 

 wing tips in the snow as the wise bird flew, 

 several minutes before danger approached. 

 His danger was not so great, though, 

 after all, if I am familiar with that boy, 

 for the bird that left was game for a man 

 of sharp wit and good judgment. 



Grouse are quite apt to keep each other 

 company in small coveys until spring, ex- 

 cept when they are much disturbed, but 

 certain very old birds are quite content to 

 be solitary, and they are then difficult to 

 approach under ordinary circumstances. 

 A wary old bird will slide quietly out of 

 the way as soon as he hears the sportsman 

 approaching, and it is folly to attempt to 

 corner him, but most of the grouse run 

 and hide when there are signs of danger, 

 and a good pointer or setter will follow 



