RUFFED GROUS. 



49 



those below, who immediately fly off. In deep snows they are 

 usually taken in traps, commonly dead traps, supported by a figure 

 4 trigger. At this season when suddenly alarmed they frequently 

 dive into the snow, particularly when it has newly fallen, and coming 

 out at a considerable distance, again take wing. They are pretty 

 hard to kill, and will often carry off a large load to the distance of 

 two hundred yards, and drop down dead. Sometimes in the depth 

 of winter they approach the farm house, and lurk near the barn, 

 or about the garden. They have also been often taken young and 

 tamed, so as to associate with the fowls ; and their eggs have fre- 

 quently been hatched under the common hen ; but these rarely sur- 

 vive until full grown. They are exceedingly fond of the seeds of 

 grapes; occasionally eat ants, chesnuts, blackberries, and various 

 vegetables. Formerly they were numerous in the immediate vi- 

 cinity of Philadelphia; but as the woods were cleared and popu- 

 lation increased, they retreated to the interior. At present there 

 are very few to be found within several miles of the city, and those 

 only singly, in the most solitary and retired woody recesses. 



Tlie Pheasant is in best order for the table in September and 

 October. At this season they feed chiefly on whortle-berries, and 

 the little red aromatic partridge-berries, the last of which gives 

 their flesh a peculiar delicate flavour. With the former our moun- 

 tains are literally covered from August to November; and these 

 constitute at that season the greater part of their food. During 

 the deep snows of winter they have recourse to the buds of alder, 

 and the tender buds of the laurel. I have frequently found their 

 crops distended with a large handful of these latter alone ; and it 

 has been confidently asserted that after having fed for some time 

 on the laurel buds, their flesh becomes highly dangerous to eat of, 

 partaking of the poisonous qualities of the plant. The same has 

 been asserted of the flesh of the deer when in severe weather and 

 deep snows they subsist on the leaves and bark of the laurel. Tho 

 I have myself eat freely of the flesh of the Pheasant, after empty- 



VOL. VI. N 



