THE BLACK GROUSE. 



277 



In Russia, Norway, and other extreme northern countries, the 

 Black Grouse are said to retire under the snow during winter. The 

 .shooting of them in Russia is thus conducted: Huts full of loop- 

 holes, like little forts, are built for the purpose, in woods frequented 

 by these birds. Upon the trees within shot of the huts, are placed 

 artificial decoy-birds. As the Grouse assemble, the company fire 

 through the openings; and so long as the sportsmen are concealed, 

 the report of the guns does not frighten the birds avvay. bovu.al of 

 them may therefore 

 be killed from the 

 same tree, when 

 three or four hap- 

 pen to be perched 

 on branches one 

 above another. 

 The sportsman has 

 only to shoot the 

 undermost bird 

 first, and the others 

 upward in succes- 

 sion. The upper- 

 most bird is ear- 

 nestly employed in 

 looking down after 

 his fallen compan- 

 ions, and keeps 

 chattering to them 

 till he becomes 

 himself a victim. 



During winter 

 the inhabitants of 

 Siberia take these 

 birds in the follow- 

 ing manner: A 

 number of poles are 

 laid horizontally 

 on forked sticks, 

 in the open birch 

 forests. Small bundles of corn are tied on these, by way of allure- 

 ment ; and, at a little distance, some tall baskets of conical shape are 

 placed, having their broad parts uppermost. Within the mouth of 

 each basket is placed a small wheel ; through which passes an axi? 

 so nicely fixed, as to admit it to play very readily, and, on the least 

 touch either on one side or the other, to drop down, and again recover 

 its situation. The Black Grouse are soon attracted by the corn on 

 the horizontal poles. The first comers alight upon them, and after 

 H short repast fly to the baskets, and attempt to settle on their tops , 

 when the wheel drops sideways, and they fall headlong into the trap. 

 Tb^se baskets are sometimes found half-full of birds thus caught. 



BLACK OROU8E. FEMALE. 



