210 Ruffed Grouse. 



such fine style. Both birds then walked 

 on a way, watching me all of the while, 

 and soon four more grouse came in sight. 

 They walked within three rods, but paid 

 me no attention, and busied themselves 

 picking up fallen frost grapes. Suddenly 

 there was a rush overhead and a grouse 

 alighted in the vines just above me and 

 commenced picking at a bunch of grapes, 

 his smooth plumage with the dark mark- 

 ings on the sides seeming more beautiful 

 than anything I had ever seen. Once in 

 a while he looked down at me over his 

 shoulder, erected his crest, and gave an 

 interested " peet, peet," and then went on 

 picking grapes again. 



In a short time eleven grouse were in 

 sight, moving about as gracefully as could 

 be, putting their little feet lightly down 

 on the dead leaves, and all engaged in 

 hunting for food. One of them flew up 

 to the one already in the vines, and then 

 nearly all followed, and commenced pick- 

 ing the grapes that hung in scattered 

 clusters. 



All of this while I had remained perfectly 



