148 THE CANADIAN GROUSE. 



is much better in summer, as in winter it has a strong 

 flavour of spruce. At Hudson's Bay, where they 

 are called indifferently Wood or Spruce Partridge, 

 they are seen throughout the year. Like other 

 grouse, they build on the ground, having perhaps 

 fewer eggs ; these are varied with white, yellow and 

 black. They are easily approached, being unsuspi- 

 cious, by no means so shy as the common ruffed 

 grouse, and are killed or trapped in numbers, with- 

 out much artifice being necessary for this purpose. 

 When much disturbed, like their kindred species, 

 they are apt to resort to trees, where, by using the 

 precaution of always shooting the lowest, the whole 

 of the terrified flock may be brought down to the 

 last bird." Mr Douglas says that they (the var, 

 Franklinii) are the most common birds in the val- 

 leys of the Rocky Mountains from 50 to 60, and 

 that some small troops are found in the higher moun- 

 tains, which form the base of the snowy peaks. The 

 alarm-note is two or three hollow sounds, ending in 

 a yearning disagreeable grating note, like the latter 

 part of the call of the Guinea fowl. The male is 

 represented on the accompanying plate ; the female 

 is smaller, more varied, with less of black, and more 

 of dusky ; the upper parts are confusedly mottled 

 with dull rusty orange and grey. The sides of the 

 head, throat, and all the neck below, are dull rusty 

 brown, each feather varied with black ; on the lower 

 part of the breast the black bands are broad and very 

 deep, alternating equally with rusty orange. 

 Our next bird is 



