118 GUN, KOD, AND SADDLE. 



THE PiN]:>TATED GROUSE. 



(tetrao cupido.) 



The first pheasant I killed in China I thought the 

 noblest game-bird that ever I had pnlled a trigger 

 npon, and truly he was a beauty ; the plumage was 

 in the most perfect state — the neck of the greenest 

 emerald, the riug of the purest white, the tail the 

 longest, and the different shades and tints of wings 

 and body the very brightest I had ever seen in one 

 of his species; moreover, he weighed nearly one-half 

 more than any of the same family 1 had killed at 

 liome, and to add additional appreciation, the shot 

 that brought him to the ground was a difficult one 

 and at long range. For years the pheasant of tlie 

 southern portion of China reigned paramount in my 

 opinion ; but a change has come over my ideas, and 

 now su])erlative before all others, I |)lace two varie- 

 ties of ^Vmerican game-birds. What days of pleasure 

 have I had in the })ursuit of piimated grouse; what 

 splendid bags have I made, and on such grou'nd 



