136 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



and more of a brownish color ; the bar of black on the tail is 

 also of a lighter color, and the plumage generally of a lighter 

 shade. 



Many persons confound the Buffed Grouse with the Prairie 

 Hen ; but this is quite wrong, as there is a striking difference 

 between the two Birds, not only in their plumage, but also in 

 their modes of life. The former variety, it is well known to 

 every one at all familiar with its habits, delights in the mount- 

 ainous districts of our country, and is particularly partial to 

 craggy sides of the hills, and the steep, rocky, and almost 

 inaccessible banks of rivers or small streams; while, on the 

 other hand, the Prairie Grouse feeds entirely upon the open 

 plains and clear countries of the West, and never, except 

 when disturbed by the Huntsman, forsakes these situations for 

 the woods. 



THEIR GRADUAL DESTRUCTION. 



The Euflfed Grouse, as well as the Pinnated, is fast retiring 

 from before the destructive hand of the whites; for, notwith- 

 standing the broods of the former are so very prolific, and 

 their haunts so retired, the demand for them in our cities 

 increases so fast that every encouragement is offered to the 

 ruthless hand of the Netter and Trapper, who is ever at work 

 thinning their numbers, in season or out of season, as may best 

 suit his convenience or the depraved palates of his guilty cus- 

 tomers. There are, however, considerable numbers of Grouse 

 in some portions of New Jersey, and many more in Pennsyl- 

 vania and New York ; but every season sends forth a myriad 

 of Gunners to shoot them down, while the deep snows of our 

 long winters drive them half famished into the fatal traps and 

 snares that are so thickly scattered over their haunts. We 

 need hardly speak at this particular time of the unsportsman- 

 like and barbarous custom of shooting game out of season, or 

 offer any comment upon the subject, as we have already said 

 much under another head ; and, we trust, quite enough to in- 

 duce every sensible man to discountenance such proceedings 

 as far as in his power, whether he be a Sportsman or not. 



