164 



A PLEA FOR THE RUFFED GROUSE, 



in the vicinity ; but as severe weather approaches 

 the woods will be their constant resort. In shoot- 

 ing the rufifed grouse, great difficulty is always ex- 

 perienced in marking them, for the flight, as I have 

 previously said, is wonderfully rapid, and moreover 

 they have a method of doubling back in the reverse 

 direction from which they started. However, as 

 generally they do not go far (about four or five 

 hundred yards), with patience and the selection of 

 the nearest irregular ground which has young 

 timber upon it, or the most dense bush, a 

 second opportunity will probably be found of 

 bringing more of the family to bag. All over 

 the eastern and middle United States and maritime 

 provinces they are to be found, being generally 

 known by the misnomers of partridges or pheasants. 

 Where the country is wild and sparsely settled, they 

 are sometimes stupidly tame, almost permitting 

 themselves to be knocked down with a stick. Fre- 

 quently, when trout-fishing in the wilds of the 

 State of Maine, I have come suddenly upon them, 

 when they would rise into the nearest tree, and re- 

 main with unconcern, watching you with evident 

 curiosity, stretching their necks, and getting into all 

 kinds of grotesque attitudes ; and so little would 

 they then regard the report of a gun that I have 

 known pot-hunters kill quite a number of the same 

 family by always shooting the lowest bird first; but 

 when the ruffed grouse becomes familiar with man it 

 is perfectly cognizant of the danger of being in his 

 proximity ; for, although they flush close enough to 

 shoot at, their colour harmonizes so well with that 

 of the ground, that it is next to impossible to see 

 them before they are on the wing, when, such is 

 their impetuosity, that the timid, nervous pottering 

 shot, with all his striving, would find it very difficult 

 indeed to kill a single specimen. 

 In the undergrowth which springs up in that 



