RUFFED GROUSE AS FOOD. 213 



danger of being in his proximity. Although before dogs 

 they lie close, their color harmonizes so well with that of 

 the ground, that it is next to impossible to see them before 

 they are on the wing. 



In the undergrowth which springs up in that portion of 

 the country where the timber has been destroyed by fire, I 

 ever found them very abundant, it being almost impossible 

 to wander half a mile through such openings without flush- 

 ing a covey. As these generally occur in the lumber re- 

 gions, where the winters are particularly long and rigor- 

 ous, far exceeding in severity those of Scotland, the hardi- 

 ness of this bird can not be doubted. In the Alleghanies 

 and all the southern ranges of hills of the United States it 

 is also abundant, where, if the winters are less severe, the 

 heat in summer is sometimes excessive, proving that the 

 ruffed grouse is capable of enduring great varieties of cli- 

 mate. 



The palate of the most fastidious epicure can not fail to 

 be gratified with the appearance of this game on the table, 

 the flesh being extremely delicate, with a strong flavor of 

 our red grouse. I have eaten it cooked in every conceiva- 

 ble manner, and whether it be simply roasted over a camp- 

 fire, or form a portion of an omnium gatherum stew, it will 

 be found alike acceptable. Although scarcity of food may 

 compel this grouse to change its beat, still it is not migra- 

 tory, as stated by some naturalists. This supposition has 

 arisen from their being found in great numbers during 

 summer and autumn on the scrub barren land, which they 

 leave as soon as the more severe weather commences, for 

 the shelter of the dense timber. A family of these birds I 

 was acquainted with for a year. On their range there was 

 an abundance of food and water, and during that period I 

 could always find them, their home being a little hilly isl- 

 and in the prairie, covered with timber and brush, and 



