218 RUFFED GROUSE. 



Hawk. The former watches their motions from the tops of trees, and 

 falls upon them with the swiftness of thought, whilst the latter seizes up- 

 on them as he glides rapidly through the woods. Pole-cats, weasels, 

 raccoons, oppossums, and foxes, are all destructive foes to them. Of 

 these, some are content with sucking their eggs, while others feed on 

 their flesh. 



I have found these birds most numerous in the States of Pennsylvania 

 and New York. They are brought to the markets in great numbers, 

 during the winter months, and sell at from 15 cents to a dollar a-piece, 

 in the eastern cities. At Pittsburg I have bought them, some years ago, 

 for 121 '^ents the pair. It is said that when they have fed for several 

 weeks on the leaves of the Kalmia lat'ifuUa, it is dangerous to eat their 

 flesh, and I believe laws have been passed to prevent their being sold at 

 that season. I have, however, eaten them at all seasons, and although 1 

 have found their crops distended with the leaves of the Kalmia, have 

 never felt the least inconvenience after eating them, nor even perceived 

 any difference of taste in their flesh. I suspect it is only when the birds 

 have been kept a long time undrawn and vmplucked, that the flesh be- 

 comes impregnated with the juice of these leaves. 



The food of this species consists of seeds and berries of all kinds, ac- 

 cording to the season. It also feeds on the leaves of several species of 

 evergreens, although these are only resorted to when other food has be- 

 come scarce. They are particularly fond of fox-grapes and winter-grapes, 

 as well as strawberries and dewberries. To procure the latter, they issue 

 from the groves of the Kentucky Barrens, and often stray to the distance 

 of a mile. They roost on trees, amongst the thickest parts of the fo- 

 liage, sitting at some distance from each other, and may easily be smoked 

 to death, by using the necessary precautions. 



I cannot conclude this article, kind reader, without observing how de- 

 sirable the acqviisition of this species might be to the sportsmen of Europe, 

 and especially to those of England, where I am surprised it has not yet 

 been introduced. The size of these birds, the beauty of their plumage, 

 the excellence of their flesh, and their peculiar mode of flying, would ren- 

 der them valuable, and add greatly to the interest of the already diversi- 

 fied sports of that country. In England and Scotland there are thou- 

 sands of situations that are by nature perfectly suited to their habits, 

 and I have not a doubt that a few years of attention would be sufficient 

 to render them quite as common as the Grey Partridge. 



