CAPTURING WILD ANIMALS 



211 



I have said that I have caught ruffed grouse 

 with my naked hands, but this was when the snow 

 was on the ground, and any boy with ordinary 

 alertness and judgment can tell by the marks on 

 the surface of the snow where the grouse has 

 alighted and buried itself under the soft mantle of 

 crystals. Then by reaching his hands down through 

 the snow at the proper point he can pick out the 

 bird without difficulty, hold it just long enough to 

 prove to himself that he has captured it, give it a 

 toss in the air and allow it to escape with a whirr 

 to freedom. 



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