8 FEATHERED GAME 
civilization these, with the ptarmigans, will 
probably be the last of our grouse to be exter- 
minated. At present their only disturber is the 
hunter of big game who may want a showy 
“‘bird piece’’ for his dining room. It is a very 
pretty fowl for such a purpose, too, but the 
sportsman rarely kills more than the pair 
needed, for at that season their table qualities 
are not such as to induce him to put in the last 
day of his stay in camp in shooting the heads 
off Spruce Grouse to supply a toothsome mor- 
sel for friends at home, as he generally does 
with the ruffed grouse. 
During a snowstorm the Spruce Grouse usu- 
ally flies up into the densest clump of spruce or 
fir trees in the neighborhood, and under their 
thick, arching branches, snow-laden and bend- 
ing, he finds shelter from the weather and food 
in abundance. He may not leave the tree for 
several days if undisturbed and the storm con- 
tinues. The question of temperature troubles 
him little, and with his wants all provided for, 
the Spruce Grouse is more independent in his 
mode of life than any of his feathered neighbors, 
for when other birds are scurrying about for 
something to eat and perhaps going hungry, 
