500 PINNATED GROUS. 



and frequently with a sound which resembles the syllables coo, coo, coo, 

 uttered with rapidity. One good dog is better than two, and though 

 sufficient, is absolutely necessary, for besides the enjoyment of observing 

 his action generally, his challenging cheers, and his pointing prepare 

 you. But more than all, a dog is required in recovering those which are 

 winged or not fatally wounded, which, but for his tracking them, would 

 be entirely lost. 



" The barberry, which abounds in many parts of Martha's Vineyard, is 

 the principal food of the Grouse, particularly such as grow on low bushes, 

 near the ground, and easily readied by the birds. They also feed on the 

 .boxberry or partridgeberry, the highland and lowland cranberry, rose- 

 buds, pine and alder buds, acorns, &c. In summer, when young, they 

 feed on the more succulent berries. 



" We frequently meet with the remains of such as have been destroyed 

 in various ways, but more particularly by the domestic cat, which prowls 

 the woods in a wild state, and which often receives a very unwelcome sa- 

 lute for the mischief it does. Owls, hawks, and skunks also do their 

 part towards the destruction of these valuable but defenceless birds. In 

 these ways they are thinned off much more effectually than by the sports- 

 man's gun. They frequent no particular soil, and like all other hunting, 

 wherever the feed is, there is the likeliest place for the game. In addi- 

 tion to this rule as a guide, we look for their fresh tracks among the 

 sandy barberry hillocks, and along the numerous paths which intersect 

 that remarkable part of the Vineyard called Tisbury Plain. Into this, 

 should the birds fly from the edges, as they sometimes do, it is almost 

 impossible to start them a second time, as there are no trees or large ob- 

 jects to mark their flight. Being mostly covered with scrub oaks of a 

 uniform height, with occasional mossy hollows, it affords them a place of 

 refuge, into which they fly for protection, but from which they soon 

 emerge, when the danger is past, to their more favourite haunts. 



" I have only seen them in the month of November, but I am told that 

 in the spring of the year, previous to the season of incubation, they con- 

 gregate in large companies, in particular places, where they hold a grand 

 tournament, fighting with great desperation, and doing one another all 

 the mischief possible. In these chosen spots, it is said the cunning natives 

 were accustomed to strew ashes, and rush upon them with sticks when 

 blinded by the dust which they had raised. In later times, the custom 

 of baiting them has proved more destructive to the species. In this way. 



