GROUSE-SHOOTING ON THE PRAIRIES. 301 



one proceeds westward, wherever there is open country, 

 throughout Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Wis- 

 consin, Minnesota, Upper Louisiana, and Texas, and far 

 away to the wild regions of the Columbia River. 



About the 20th of August, these birds are ready for 

 the gun. By that time they are nearly full grown, and 

 are not easily distinguished from the adult birds by their 

 plumage, or even by their weight, although by their power 

 of wing and length of flight they may easily be distin- 

 guished. 



During this month they lie hard, although, at times, 

 when the weather is hot and dry, with little or no wind, 

 they are so wild as to task a good gun. 



The excessive heat of the weather, however, on those 

 treeless plains, which is almost insufferable, and is often 

 fatal to dogs, during the summer, renders the shooting a 

 toil rather than a pleasure. 



Early in September, however, the heats begin to 

 moderate, and the sport becomes fine. At times it will 

 happen, that early in this month there are sharp cold and 

 strong winds accompanying it on the prairies, and in such 

 weather the birds will rise for many days together entirely 

 out of range. 



They never should be fired at with smaller shot than 

 No. 6 — when they can be brought down with No. 7 or 8, it 

 is proof positive that they are too young to be shot at all — 

 and after September, No. 5 is the proper size, and a car- 

 tridge in the second barrel is advisable. 



The finest shooting of the year, is in the latter part 

 of the month of September and the beginning of October, 



