Il6 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



greasewood. This peculiar diet is said by some to affect the taste 

 of the meat, as the pine buds on which the Spruce Grouse feeds 

 do its flesh. We have never noticed the disagreeable flavor re- 

 ferred to, and it is probable that it will never be noticed if the fol- 

 lowing course be adopted with the game. Immediately after kill- 

 ing draw the bird, thoroughly removing the intestines and their 

 contents, but delaying all other dressing till camp is reached. 

 Treated in this manner it has no disagreeable taste.* This is what 

 we should expect when it is recollected that in all animals, the 

 peculiarities of food pass off by secretions through the natural 

 channels. The milk and butter of a cow feeding upon vidld garlic, 

 cabbage, rag-weed, etc., will be tainted with their peculiar quali- 

 ties but the flesh is not. So when the bird is dead the operations 

 of the body cease, absorption commences and the contents of tlie 

 intestines begin to affect the flesh. The power of life to resist 

 absorption and decay are wonderful. A live fish in salt water con- 

 tinues fresh. The rubbing of salt upon a live hog's back would 

 hardly cure the meat, but when slaughtered it takes up the salt 

 through skin and flesh alike. But perhaps too much upon this 

 familiar principle, unless it serves to redeem this magnificent bird 

 from its unlucky reputation. The flesh is qiute dark and rather 

 dry, but when the bird is about two-thirds g^own, with the bitter 

 taste prevented in the manner described, it is not easy for a 

 hungry man to find fault with it, especially in camp. 



During the summer and autumn, the Sage Grouse congregate 

 in packs of from ten to twenty, usually all members of the same 

 brood. At the approach of winter, however, the packs become 

 very large, several hundred being sometimes found together. At 

 this season they are very virild, and will often fly a mile at the first 

 flushing. They get up rather hurriedly, and when fairly started 

 fly with great swiftness and for a considerable distance. After 

 being put up once they prefer running or hiding to flying a second 

 time, and will lie very close. 



Ordinarily it lies well to a dog and where there is good cover 

 its conduct in that respect is better than that of the Pinnated 

 Grouse. But the peculiarities of its habitat do not give the dog a 

 fair chance to work, or to do himself or the game justice. The 

 artemisia grows only upon barren prairies from four to ten thou- 



* It is the experience of others that, no matter in what manner or 

 how quickly dressed, the old birds have a strong sage flavor. 



