THE RUFFED GROUSE. 101 



the point whence they were flushed, reuniting about an 

 hour after the separation. They then usually move to 

 some other part of the forest, returning on the evening 

 of the following day. 



AVhen danger threatens, they generally squat, and 

 remain motionless until forced to rise, which they do 

 with a loud, whirring noise. At times, however, especially 

 in extensive forests, they spread the tail and walk 

 proudly some distance; then, dropping all appearance of 

 dignity, run swiftly before taking wing. Even in local- 

 ities where often disturbed, there are occasions when 

 they seem to know but little fear, and again, they are 

 quite wild in deep woods, where one would expect to 

 find them tame. 



TVhen shot only in the head, they tower above the 

 tallest trees, fluttering to the earth almost perpendic- 

 ularly. 



In addition to their deadly enemy, man, they have 

 the fox, the weasel, the mink, the wildcat, the lynx, the 

 opossum, the owl, and the hawk to guard against, all of 

 which, in some sections, are sufficiently numerous to 

 render bird-life precarious. 



East of the Rocky Mountains, the ruffed grouse lies 

 better in September and December than in the interven- 

 ing months, and closer on snowy days than on pleasant 

 ones. I have found them unusually wild on very windy 

 days in autumn, though a frequent contributor to one of 

 our leading journals says the opposite is true. 



It occasionally happens that we flrid eight or ten of 

 these birds in an evergreen tree. A belief prevails that 

 when thus circumstanced one may pot the covey by 

 each time shooting the lower bird. Different coveys, how- 

 ever, seem to have different opinions as to the fitness of 

 the proceeding, as very man} 7 times the gunner has to 

 content himself with a single bird. With a rifle of small 



