194 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



tember), No. 1 shot will be found heavy enough to do ef- 

 fective work, but later on, when cold nights, accompanied 

 by rain and wind, have taken place, No. 5 should be used. 



The first pheasant I killed in China I thought the noblest 

 game bird that ever I had pulled a trigger upon, and truly 

 he was a beauty; the plumage was in the most perfect 

 state the neck of the greenest emerald, the ring of the 

 purest white, the tail the longest, and the different shades 

 and tints of wings and body the very brightest I had ever 

 seen in one of the species ; moreover, he weighed nearly 

 one-half more than any of the same family I had killed at 

 home, and, to add additional appreciation, the shot that 

 brought him to the ground was a difficult one, and at long 

 range. For years the pheasant of the southern portion of 

 China reigned paramount in my opinion ; but a change has 

 come over my ideas, and now, superlative before all others, 

 I place two descriptions of American game birds, and this 

 species is one of them. What days of pleasure have I had 

 in the pursuit of pinnated grouse ! What splendid bags 

 have I made, and on such ground as gave my darling com- 

 panion setters the very best opportunities of showing their 

 sagacity and careful education to the greatest advantage ! 

 In alluding to the ruffed grouse, I have stated that I do 

 not believe this bird (the pinnated grouse) so worthy of ac- 

 climatization ; and why? he disregards distance in his late 

 autumnal flights ; and, therefore, where shooting ranges are 

 limited by bounds, unless the proprietors on every side 

 would mutually agree for their protection, I fear that the 

 labors of the introducer in the cause of acclimatization 

 would be fraught with dissatisfaction. But for all that, the 

 pinnated grouse is deserving of attention ; for he is truly a 

 most noble bird, and affords the best of sport, till the cold 

 winds preceding winter cause them to pack, in the same 

 manner as our red and black game; when their weariness 



