RUFFED GEOTTSE. 71 



of the United States he is also abundant, where, if 

 the winters are less severe, the heat in summer is 

 sometimes excessive, proving that the ruffed grouse 

 is capable of enduring great varieties of climate. 

 The palate of the most fastidious epicure can not fail 

 to be gratified with his appearance on the table, the 

 flesh being extremely delicate, with a strong flavor 

 of our red grouse. I have eaten them cooked in 

 every conceivable manner, and whether it be simply 

 roasted over a camp fire or forming a portion of an 

 omnium-gatherum stew, they will be found alike 

 acceptable. Although scarcity of food may compel 

 this grouse to change his beat, still they are not mi- 

 gratory, as stated by some naturalists. This suppo- 

 sition has arisen from their being found in great 

 numbers during summer and autumn on the scrub 

 barren land, which they leave as soon as the more 

 severe weather commences, for the shelter of the 

 dense timber. A family of these birds I was ac- 

 quainted with for a year. On their range there was 

 an abundance of food and water, and during that 

 period I could always find them, their home being a 

 little hilly island in the prairie covered with timber 

 and brush, and detached from any irregular land by 

 several miles of grass. 



