g(} THE SPOTTED OR CANADA GROUSE. 



remain busily engaged in search of food until sunset, I found the night and 

 the following morning fresh and clear. Indeed, I believe that this kind of 

 foresight exists in the whole tribe of gallinaceous birds. 



One day, while on the coast of Labrador, I accidentally almost walked 

 upon a female Canada Grouse surrounded by her young brood. It was on 

 the 18th of July. The affrighted mother on seeing us, ruffled up all her 

 feathers like a common hen, and advanced close to us as if determined to 

 defend her offspring. Her distressed condition claimed our forbearance, and 

 we allowed her to remain in safety. The moment we retired, she smoothed 

 down her plumage, and uttered a tender maternal chuck, when the little ones 

 took to their wings, although they were, I can venture to assert, not more 

 than one week old, with so much ease and delight, that I felt highly pleased 

 at having allowed them to escape. 



Two days afterwards, my youthful and industrious party returned to the 

 Ripley with a pair of these Grouse in moult. This species undergoes that 

 severe trial at a much earlier season than the Willow Ptarmigan. My son 

 reported that some young ones which he saw with their mother, were able 

 to fly fully a hundred yards, and alighted on the low trees, among which he 

 caught several of them, which, however, died before he reached the vessel. 



This species is found not only in the State of Maine, but also in the moun- 

 tainous districts of New Hampshire, and the northern parts of New York, as 

 well as around our northern great lakes, and the head waters of the Missouri. 

 It is abundant in the British provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, 

 Newfoundland and Labrador. 



Among the great number, procured at all seasons of the year, which I 

 have examined, I never found one without the rufous band at the extremity 

 of the tail represented in the plate; nor did I see any having the terminal 

 white spot on the upper tail-coverts exhibited in figures of this species. 



Their food consists of berries of different sorts, and the young twigs and 

 blossoms of several species of plants. In the summer and autumn I have 

 found them gorged with the berries of the plant represented in the plate, and 

 which is commonly called "Solomon's Seal." In the winter I have seen 

 the crop filled with the short leaves of the larch or Hackmetack. 



I have frequently heard it said that these birds could be knocked down 

 with sticks, or that a whole covey could be shot, while perched on trees, by 

 beginning at the lowest one; but I have never witnessed any thing of the 

 kind, and therefore cannot vouch for the truth of the assertion. During the 

 autumn of 1833, these birds were uncommonly abundant in the State of 

 Maine. My friend Edward Harris of New York, Thomas Lincoln, and 

 others, killed a great number; and the last mentioned gentleman procured a 

 pair alive, which were fed on oats and did well. 



