412 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



of the prairie by hundreds at a time, after which they 

 disperse. Their wariness at this time is extreme; and 

 the slightest indication of the approach of man, even 

 at a great distance, is noticed by the cock, who, perched 

 on the topmost twig, elongates his neck and peeps first 

 on one side and then on the other with the most pro- 

 voking caution. How often have I been foiled, when, 

 after the most cautious approach, either in serpent 

 fashion like the Indian, dragging myself through the 

 grass inch by inch, or in an upright position striving 

 to counterfeit a tree stump, never stirring till the sen- 

 tinel looked another way, and then, by imperceptible 

 approaches and five more feet in five more minutes, 

 would I approach the tree within range the careful 

 bird began to grow more and more doubtful and rest- 

 less and finally set up that clear, tremulous crow which 

 said : There's a rogue with a gun almost within shot/ 

 as plainly as though he had spoken English. The in- 

 stant and complete dispersion of the whole covey to a 

 great distance would be the immediate consequence." 



SHARP-TAILED GROUSE SHOOTING 



/ 



Except for the seasonal movements already mention- 

 ed, the sharp-tailed grouse is very local in habit. Half 

 a dozen pairs of these grouse will build their nests and 

 hatch their young along three or four miles of prairie 

 stream, or the dry ravines which lead down to it. 

 Mother and young will spend the summer on a range 

 of prairie covering less than a square mile, and there, 



