^14 RUFFED GROUSE. 



On the ground, where the RufFed Grouse spends a large portion of its 

 time, its motions are peculiarly graceful. It walks with an elevated firm 

 step, opening its beautiful tail gently and with a well-marked jet, holding 

 erect its head, the feathers of which are frequently raised, as are the vel- 

 vety tufts of its neck. It poises its body on one foot for several seconds at 

 a time, and utters a soft cluck, which in itself impUes a degree of confi- 

 dence in the bird that its tout ensemble is deserving of the notice of any 

 bystander. Should the bird discover that it is observed, its step immedi- 

 ately changes to a rapid run, its head is lowered, the tail is more widely 

 spread, and if no convenient hiding-place is at hand, it immediately takes 

 flight with as much of the whirring sound as it can produce, as if to prove 

 to the observer, that, when on wing, it cares as little about him as the 

 deer pretends to do, when, on being started by the hound, he makes se- 

 veral lofty bounds, and erects his tail to the breeze. Should the Grouse, 

 however, run into a thicket, or even over a place where many dried leaves 

 lie on the ground, it suddenly stops, squats, and remains close until the 

 danger is over, or until it is forced by a dog or the sportsman himself to 

 rise against its wish. 



The shooting of Grouse of this species is precarious, and at times very 

 difficult, on account of the nature of the places which they usually pre- 

 fer. Should, for instance, a covey of these birds be raised from amongst 

 Laurels (Kalmia latifolia) or the largest species of Bay {Rhododendron 

 maximurn), these shrvibs so intercept the view of them, that, unless the 

 sportsman proves quite an adept in the difficult art of pulling the trigger 

 of his gun at the proper moment, and quickly, his first chance is lost, and 

 the next is very uncertain. I say still more uncertain, because at this 

 putting up of the birds, they generally rise higher over the bushes, flying 

 in a straight course, whereas at the second start, they often fly among the 

 laurels, and rise above them in a circuitous manner, when to follow them 

 along the barrel of the gun is considerably more difficult. Sometimes, 

 when these birds are found on the sides of a steep hill, the moment they 

 start, they dive towards the foot of the declivity, take a turn, and fly off' 

 in a direction so different from the one expected, that unless the sportsman 

 is aware of the trick, he may not see them again that day. The young 

 birds often prove equally difficult to be obtained, for as they are raised 

 from amongst the closely tangled laurels, they only fly a few j^ards, and 

 again drop among them. A smart cur-dog generally proves the best kind 

 on these occasions ; for no sooner does he start a covey of Ruffed Grouse 



