102 THE TRAPPER'S FOOD. 



Ruffed Grouse. There are three species of the Ruffed 

 Grouse : the common species which inhabits the country 

 from the Southern States to Labrador and the Saskatche- 

 wan ; the Oregon or Sabine's Grouse of the Rocky Mount- 

 ains and the Pacific slope, and the Allied Grouse inhabiting 

 the Rocky Mountains northward to the frozen regions. The 

 Oregon Grouse is much darker and redder than the common 

 species. The Allied Grouse is of a light gray color, and is 

 smaller than either of the others. All are excellent for the 

 table. Ruffed Grouse are generally found in small flocks, 

 except where they have been much hunted. In the latter 

 case more than two are rarely found together. They delight 

 in upland and mountain forests, where springs and small 

 brooks abound. They are particularly fond of the high, 

 sloping banks which border on such streams. These are 

 their favorite feeding-grounds. Their flesh is white and 

 unsurpassed in flavor by other Grouse. They should be 

 hunted with a trained dog. Sportsmen prefer cockers. In 

 the back woods they may occasionally be hunted with moder- 

 ate success without a dog ; but such hunting is generally tedi- 

 ous and uncertain. They are easily snared by building a low 

 fence of twigs with occasional openings, large enough to per- 

 mit a bird to pass through, and placing a slip-noose across the 

 opening. The noose should be made of small copper wire. 

 Some hunters prefer to attach the noose to a spring-pole. 



THE PINNATED GROUSE. 



This species is commonly known as the Prairie Hen. They 

 formerly existed in great numbers in the Atlantic States, but 

 are now mostly cenfined to the prairies and plains of the West, 

 east of the Rocky Mountains, within the limits of the United 

 States. They differ from the ruffed grouse in preferring the 

 open country to the forests. They choose the dry lands for 

 their habitat, avoiding as far as possible marshy or wet places. 

 They depend for their drink on the dew which they collect 

 from the leaves of plants. In color the Prairie Hen resembles 

 the ruffed grouse, but its markings are different. It is about 

 nineteen inches long and when in good order, weighs about 



