THE RUFFED GROUSE. 89 



350. In a large majority of cases, the above-mentioned 

 gun will give satisfaction when loaded as follows: Right 

 barrel, 3J drains of high-grade black or wood powder, 

 two heavy wads, 1^ ounces of No. 8 shot, card-board 

 wad; left barrel, 3 drams best black powder, two heavy 

 wads, 1-J- ounces of No. 6 shot, card-board wad, or if 

 using brass shells, an Ely shot-wad. 



All hunters do not find pleasure in the pursuit of a 

 bird so difficult to capture, in a sportsmanlike way, as 

 the ruffed grouse; but here, as elsewhere, perseverance 

 and energy win, especially if coupled with the faculty of 

 observing closely. 



I do not know why, but it is a fact, that when we hear 

 a man spoken of as a successful hunter of this bird, we at 

 once believe him to be energetic, persevering, intelligent^ 

 generous in short, a desirable camp companion. 



We would know more of the successful still hunter 

 before joining him upon a long trip; for have we not read 

 that he Avears his hair long, and is crafty and garrulous, 

 or lazy, or that he toes in, or has killed hoop-snakes? 



But we never hear these things about the grouse- 

 hunter. When he looks us in the eyes, and says: ''John 

 and I killed fourteen yesterday, and we're going again 

 to-morrow; come and go with us," we Say without hesita- 

 tion: "All right, Tom; we'll be with you in the morning, 

 without fail." 



The man who never gives a retrospective moment to 

 the time when he looked on the magnified form of his 

 first ruffed grouse, must be more than ordinarily busy 

 or care-laden. 



That blissful day of youth, to which we subsequently 

 manage to refer on all social occasions, regardless of the 

 subject under consideration, was probably fraught with 

 boundless exultation, a fitful sadness we could not define, 

 and were ashamed to acknowledge, and an Aladdin-like 



