202 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



CHI seeing one alight at a certain spot, and withdrawing 

 my eyes from it a moment, I have been unable to find 

 it again, although I knew the exact place where it 

 sat, until a movement on the part of the bird betrayed 

 its position. In summer the white areas of the plum- 

 age are completely hidden while the bird is squatting, 

 although plainly visible while on the wing; in winter 

 the first appearing black specks are concealed beneath 

 the white feathers, and at this period, as I am in- 

 formed, it is almost indistinguishable from the snow. 

 On being pursued, it will dive into the snow and re- 

 appear at a considerable distance." 



My experience with this bird has been chiefly in 

 Wyoming, Montana and British Columbia, and usually 

 in the autumn. In the month of November some 

 change in the plumage will be noticed, though this 

 is chiefly in the reduction of the dark-colored areas, 

 rather than in the appearance in them of white feath- 

 ers. Where little disturbed by man, the birds pay but 

 slight regard to the presence of the hunter, and feed 

 along in a close flock without scrutinizing him. If 

 he ventures so near as to alarm them, and this some- 

 times may be within a few feet, they may rise on the 

 wing against the stiff breeze and sail along for a few 

 yards, looking much like a flock of domestic pigeons, 

 to alight after going a very short distance. If the 

 spot where they strike the ground is exposed, and the 

 wind is blowing, the birds crouch flat on the ground, 

 head to the wind, or those that have alighted near 

 stones or rocks projecting from the earth, run and 



