VII 

 "THE PARTRIDGES" OF MUSKOKA 



partridge " is the erroneous name 

 given by Canadians to the ruffed grouse 

 (Bonasa umbellus), and spruce partridge the 

 designation of the spotted or Canada grouse 

 (Canachites canadensis). I have never heard 

 them described in any other way by the 

 Muskoka people. 



The New World is wealthy in game birds, 

 and it appears to me to be strange that no effort 

 has been made to introduce some of them into 

 Great Britain. I have shot the beautiful 

 American partridge (Colinus virginianus) in Mary- 

 land, the prairie hen or plumated grouse 

 (Tympanuchus americanus) in South-Eastern 

 Illinois, turkeys and quail North-West of the 

 Mississippi. The ruffed and Canada grouse 

 are the only species of game birds I have 

 shot in considerable numbers in Muskoka. 

 Occasionally in the more settled parts of the 



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