174 Field and Forest Rambles. 



case sooner or later with the partridges of this region, and that 

 at no very distant period, for more stupid birds than the RUFFED 

 or Birch Partridge and the Canada Grouse in their native 

 wilds do not exist. The early settlers knocked them down 

 with sticks; indeed I have seen a whole brood exterminated in 

 this way, and remember traversing a swamp in a wood close to 

 Fredericton, when four of the latter flew into the pine trees 

 and I shot one, to find the rest gazing on perfectly indifferent, 

 waiting their turn until I re-loaded and despatched them in suc- 

 cession. Numbers of the ruffed grouse perish during rigorous 

 winters. Its general habit of diving head-foremost into 

 the snow and forming a burrow, where it passes the night, is 

 well known ; but it may so happen that a sudden thaw taking 

 place overnight, is followed by a rapid frost, when the surface 

 gets hardened, and the bird is unable to force its way out; the 

 result is that nearly all the partridges are smothered, and in 

 spring their bodies may be seen strewing the forest in every 

 direction. The Canada grouse, which is feathered to the toes, 

 and altogether a hardier bird, does not seemingly resort to this 

 practice in winter. As if desirous of putting off the spruce and 

 pine-top diet as long as possible, both species may be seen 

 scraping the snow up to the last moment in quest of anything 

 green in the shape of grass, or devouring berries of whatever 

 tree they come across, mountain laurel included ; and as many 

 persons have fallen sick immediately after partaking of their 

 flesh at this season, it is probable the poisonous qualities of 

 the plant may have been transmitted. Again, like the hare, 

 when they have fed on the pine tops for a week or two, their 

 flesh becomes so highly tainted by turpentine as to be 

 scarcely palatable. 



With all the defects in intelligence displayed by the 

 Canadian partridges, the Birch has advantages in its colour 

 assimilating to that of surrounding objects. I have often flushed 

 covies into trees, and searched for a length of time, and after 

 all failed to discern their presence, until the rustle of their 



