374 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



deed in ruffed grouse shooting, for, as mentioned be- 

 fore, it ventures into the open only on such infrequent 

 occasions as it is tempted to search therein for food, 

 and then only in places seldom invaded by man, where 

 it fancies there is freedom from pursuit. To all fixed 

 habits there seems to be an exception for a short pe- 

 riod in the fall, when it is subject to a crazy wayward- 

 ness. 



While in the open field it is strong and swift of 

 wing, in cover it is at its best. It will, on occasion, 

 dash through the densest thickets with apparent ease, 

 with no diminution of its swiftest speed, seemingly 

 having a charmed manner of flying through tree-tops 

 and thickets as if they were but phantom trees of the 

 woodland, or shadows offering no obstruction to its 

 onward flight. 



And in its favorite haunts it is a master of self- 

 defense. It can utilize thickets, trees, old fences, 

 ledges, stone walls, swift wings and endless cunning 

 to evade its pursuer. Be the position of the shooter 

 what it may in reference to this bird in cover, it, when 

 flushed, takes instant advantage of the nearest thicket 

 or the trunk of a tree or old fence, keeping one or the 

 other between itself and the gunner in its line of flight, 

 thus in a great measure blocking all opportunity to 

 shoot, or at least hampering the shooter greatly, and 

 oftentimes causing a miss. 



The bird, in most instances, times its rise so as to 

 have the advantage of some nearby object as a shield 

 to its flight On occasion it will display a courage 



