CHAPTER V. 
THE DUSKY GROUSE. 
The Dusky Grouse—Its various names—Size, weight, and color—Char- 
acter of flesh—A handsome bird—The courting song—A feath- 
ered ventriloquist—How to find its retreat—Nesting—Unsuspicious 
mothers—Tame chickens—Food—Restless disposition of the birds 
—Favorite haunts—Do not pack—Are wild in winter—Their habit 
of squatting—Abundant beyond the Rocky Mountains—Indian 
superstition concerning them—Different varieties—A visit to Lake 
Ceur d’Alene—Magnificent scenery—An aérial drama—Flying 
contest between an osprey and an eagle—Philosophizing on human 
nature and bird nature—A night scene—Cries of wild animals—In 
the forest—Death of a stag and a doe—Maternal feeling of the 
latter—Superstitions abuut bears—How to cook deer heads and 
bear meat—Indian visitors—Hunting the grouse—Their method of 
concealment—A confidant bird—A large bag—Abundance of trout 
—How to cook them—Searching for a lost punster—A wolf sere- 
nade—A varied gamebag—Spearing trout—A feast in the wilder- 
ness—A mountain storm—A delightful reminiscence. 
The Dusky Grouse (Canace obsewra), which is placed 
in the sub-genus Dendragapus, is known by various 
names in different parts of the country—such as the 
blue, gray, mountain, and pine grouse, hill cock and 
cock of the woods, and, in a few places, as the fool-hen, 
from its peculiarly unsuspicious nature—ranks high as a 
table-bird, its white flesh being tender, succulent, and of 
a delicate flavor. It is larger than any of the grouse, ex- 
cept the sage cock, an adult male weighing about three 
pounds and a half when in prime condition. It is dark- 
ish in color; the tail is brownish-black, but is more or 
less marked with gray, and has a broad, slate-gray, ter- 
minal bar—a characteristic not seen in the other species. 
The back and wings are dark-brown, finely undulated 
with irregular, slate-gray feathers, mixed with ochreous 
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