42 GALLINACEOUS BIRDS 



from China, and the English pheasant, descended 

 from the same stock, which has long been a familiar 

 game bird in England and on the continent of Europe. 



Gallinaceous birds are all taken by pursuit. Most 

 of them are shot over dogs, which seek and follow 

 them by means of their scent, and which point them 

 when found. For gallinaceous game the sportsman 

 usually tramps across the fields with thorough-bred 

 setters or pointers ranging ahead, and the observa- 

 tion of these handsome, intelligent companions is, 

 in my judgment, more than half the fun. The tramp 

 across the fields and into the beautiful autumn woods 

 when the frost is in the air, is for me the most 

 desirable form of field sports. For men who do 

 not walk and climb the fences well the ambush 

 is more suitable. Do not think for a moment I would 

 decry the sport. I have shot nearly every duck 

 that flies ; have spent days in the blinds both for 

 the sea-ducks and the so-called river-ducks of the 

 interior ; I have been out in all kinds of weather, long 

 before daybreak and long after dark (before the laws 

 prohibited night shooting), and have had some splen- 

 did shooting at the ducks. I prefer the upland shoot- 

 ing, since I prefer pursuit to ambush and enjoy the 

 company and performance of setters more than of 

 retrievers. I am thoroughly in accord with those who 

 have given to the gallinaceous birds the title : " True 

 game birds." 



The grouse, partridge, turkeys, and pheasants 

 are all terrestrial birds and live and nest upon 

 the ground. Turkeys and pheasants roost in the 

 branches of trees, as do their descendants, the 



