56 tetraonidje. 



the editor, most graphically describing the sporting and scenery, as well as the man- 

 ner generally in which the party spent their time. 



Mr. Matthews, being an inveterate sportsman, subsequently visited the United 

 States of America for the purpose of indulging his taste for two years in the wilder 

 portions of the Western States, and in the Oregon territory. Having, however, met 

 with a party at Baltimore proceeding to Vera Cruz, he joined them with the inten- 

 tion of paying a brief visit to that place, and some of the inland parts of Mexico. 

 But, alas ! embarking at Havannah, in Feb. 1847, for Vera Cruz, in the Royal 

 Mail steam packet Tweed, which was wrecked upon a reef, he was one of the many 

 who perished. He was only about 27 or 28 years of age. 



These notes were given to me in manuscript by my much lamented friend, but 

 have been partly anticipated in his " Rough Notes, &c," already alluded to. 



Aug. 1843. — In the neighbourhood of the Salten river, " one night I had gone 

 up the hills by myself to shoot ; killed some black game ; afterwards fell in with 

 several capercailzies : could not get a shot, as they were very wild. While I was 

 after them, an old cock rose at about a hundred yards from me, out of some dwarf 

 willows * * * I saw the splendid bird clear the trees, and make for the other 

 side of the valley. 



"We found black game common from Trondjeim (Drontheim) to Dyroe, the most 

 northern place at which they were met with. 



Willow Grouse {Tetrao saliceti). — "We found, from Trondjeim north- 

 wards, but not in great numbers, until we were once within the arctic circle ; then 

 almost every island where there was any birch cover contained them. They are not 

 the same colour as our grouse {Tetrao Scoticus), and turn white in winter. They 

 are redder, and have at all seasons white feathers in their wings ; they do not go out 

 into the open heather as ours do, but keep among the birch and juniper-scrub. In 

 winter they bury themselves in the snow ; collect into immense packs and are very 

 wild, keeping to the high ground and bare places. The winter (1843) I was in the 

 north, the snow did not come on till late, and we could see the packs on the moun- 

 tains at immense distances, as they had turned white. We used, then, to take our 

 rifles and shoot them. I have shot three or four brace with ounce balls, and not 

 injured the bird so much that we could not use it : we got very expert at this work, 

 as also picking off ducks with rifle balls." The following notes relate to particular 

 localities : — July : near the river Nid. " I shot some grouse on the mountains here 

 at 1 2 o'clock at night ; it was then as bright as day, without the glare of the sun. 

 Aug. 17. — After walking two or three miles from Tromso, I came to some capital 

 ground ; found the grouse plenty, and blazed away. I soon expended all my powder 

 and shot, having taken with me much less than usual. Nevertheless, I returned in 

 time for dinner with a oapital bag — ten brace of grouse, two brace of golden plover, 

 and an alpine hare. Grouse-shooting is very difficult in this country, as the birds 

 are found among birch scrub, and not among heather or in open ground as in Scot- 

 land. It is very difficult to keep near your dog, or to keep him in sight. In some 

 localities the inhabitants cut the young shoots for winter fodder for their cattle. By 



