198 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



of long-settled districts, when the sport is generally precarious 

 and uncertain. If a grouse is missed after being sprung, it is 

 seldom that we can get a second shot, as they are extremely wary, 

 and will not let the sportsman again come sufficiently near to 

 insure a fatal coup-de-fusil. The young birds fly very short dis- 

 tances, and hardly ever rise higher than the tops of the laurels, 

 where they are most frequently met with. 



When pheasants are raised on the declivity of a hill, they dive 

 apparently for its base, but, after going a short distance, usually 

 turn off in another direction ; and by this trick, as it may be called, 

 they are very apt to mislead the inexperienced shooter. 



Audubon denies the commonly-received opinion that several of 

 these birds can be shot from the same tree without disturbing the 

 others, provided you commence with the lower ones first and pro- 

 ceed regularly up. He states that, after repeated trials, he never 

 succeeded, except in some very few instances, when there was a 

 heavy fall of snow ; and even then he only obtained three or four in 

 this way. In the winter season, when the snow is very deep and 

 soft, pheasants, when hard hunted, will occasionally bury them- 

 selves in it, or rather dive into it, and emerge again at a few paces 

 in advance. 



During the drumming season, these wary birds can be decoyed 

 from a considerable distance by imitating this peculiar noise, which 

 may be done by striking a large inflated bullock's-bladder with a 

 small stick, being cautious to preserve, as far as possible, the 

 marked time in which the cock bird beats. The ruffed grouse being 

 naturally so shy and retiring in its habits, it is not strange that it 

 should not lie well to a dog ; and we do not know exactly what 

 suggestions to offer on this point, as we have never had much 

 experience in the sport, and very few of our shooting friends are 

 sufficiently au fait in the matter to give us much useful information. 

 Those worthies who shoot for the markets generally go after them 

 accompanied by a small mongrel terrier, or cur, which is taught to 

 range through the thickets and brushwood that these birds usually 

 haunt. He gives voice as freely and as lively as a well-trained 



