94 GALLINACEOUS BIRDS— GROUSE 



ever charming. The lunch beside the cool spring, 

 with mossy logs or rocks for chairs and table, is eaten 

 with a mountain hunter's appetite, and the few birds 

 in the bag are handled and admired more than once. 

 Meanwhile the good setters who have worked hard are 

 dozing on the grassy mat where the sunlight falls ; the 

 pipes are lighted and the stories of the shots most dif- 

 ficult are told again. " Just as I pushed the hemlock 

 branch aside with one foot over log — Whir ! Whir ! 

 Whir ! " etc. The sportsman knows. The novice will 

 find the lesson pleasing. 



The ruffed-grouse are fond of wild grapes and also 

 of whortleberries, and in a general way I m,ay say 

 here that the knowledge of what birds are feeding 

 upon is always valuable to the sportsman. I have 

 often found the ruffed-grouse in the vicinity of the 

 wild grape-vines. Early in the season they may be 

 found on the tops of low mountains feeding in the 

 whortleberry patches. Later in the year they move 

 down the mountains, and in November the birds will 

 not be so high on the hills as earlier. There is an un- 

 certainty about the sport which lends an additional 

 zest since we prize most that which is difficult of 

 attainment. 



Men who are especially fond of the sport carefully 

 study the habits of the birds, and are, of course, more 

 successful than those who shoot them only in con- 

 nection with other game. 



It is a good rule when a bird flushes wild or is 

 missed to follow him up immediately. If he does not 

 lie well to the dog the second time, keep after him, 

 noting his line of flight and after several flushes he 



