1S4 
THE PDfNATED OROUSE. 
bpen for the poor Groase. Tbeir destroyers cou- 
Btruct for themselves lurking holes made of pine 
branches;, called bough homeSf wiifdn a few yards of 
the parade. Hither they repair wiih their fowling- 
pieces, ia the latter pan of the nifjht, and wait the 
appearance of the hirds. Watching: the moment 
wlien two are proudly eyeinsj each oilier, or ensra^ed 
in battle, or when a jjreater numhnr can he seen in 
a range, they pour on them a destructive charge of 
flbol. Thia annoyance bas been given in so many 
places, and to such extent, that the Groiise, after 
having been repeatedly disturbed, are afraid to as- 
aemble. On approsithiug tlie spot to which their in- 
stinct prompts tbem, tliey perch on the neigbbour- 
ing treeft, instead of alighting at the scratching place. 
And it remain!} to he observed, liow far the restless 
and tormenting spirit of the marliHmen may alter 
the native habits of the Grouse, and ohbge them to 
betake themselves to new ways of life. 
'* Tbey commonly keep together in coveys, or 
packs, as tlie phrase is, until the pairing season. A 
full pack consists, of coarse, of tea or a dozen. Two 
packs Iiave been known to associate. I lately heard 
of one whose number amouuted to twenty-two, 
Tliey are so unapt to he startled, that a hunter, as- 
sisted hy a dog» has been able to shoot almost a 
whole pack, without making any of them take wing. 
In like manner, the men lying in concealment near 
the scratching places have been knowTi to discharge 
several guns before eitlier the report of the explosion. 
