56 
TETRAONIDiE. 
the editor, most graphically describing the sporting and scenery, as well as the man- 
ner generally in which the party spent their time. 
Mr. Matthews, being an inveterate sportsman, subsequently visited the United 
States of America for the purpose of indulging his taste for two years in the wilder 
portions of the Western States, and in the Oregon territory. Having, however, met 
with a party at Baltimore proceeding to Vera Cruz, he joined them with the inten- 
tion of paying a brief visit to that place, and some of the inland parts of Mexico, 
But, alas ! embarking at Havannah, in Feb. 1847, for Vera Cruz, in the Royal 
Mail steam packet Tweed, which was wrecked upon a reef, he was one of the many 
who perished. He was only about 27 or 28 years of age. 
These notes were given to me in manuscript by my much lamented friend, but 
have been partly anticipated in his “’Rough Notes, &c,,” already alluded to. 
Aug. 1843. — In the neighbourhood of the Salten river, “ one night I had gone 
up the hills by myself to shoot ; killed some black game ; afterwards fell in with 
several caiiercailzies : could not get a shot, as they were very wild. While I was 
after them, an old cock rose at about a hundred yards from me, out of some dwarf 
willows * * * I saw the splendid bird clear the trees, and make for the other 
side of the valley. 
“We found hlaclc game common from Trondjeim (Drontheim) to Dyroe, the most 
northern place at which they were met with. 
Willow Geouse {Tetrao saliceti ). — “ W*e found, from Trondjeim north- 
wards, but not in great numbers, untd we were once within the arctic circle ; then 
almost every island where there was any birch cover contained them. They are not 
the same colour as our grouse {Tetrao Scoticus), and turn white in winter. They 
are redder, and have at aU seasons white feathers in their wings ; they do not go out 
into the open heather as ours do, but keep among the birch and juniper-scrub. In 
winter they bury themselves in the snow ; collect into immense packs and are very 
wild, keeping to the high ground and bare places. The winter (1843) I was in the 
north, the snow did not come on till late, and we could see the packs on the moun- 
tains at immense distances, as they had turned white. We used, then, to take our 
rifles and shoot them. I have shot three or four brace with ounce balls, and not 
injured the bird so much that we could not use it : we got very expert at this work, 
as also picking olf ducks with rifle balls.” The following notes relate to particular 
localities : — July : near the river Nid. “ I shot some grouse on the mountains here 
at 1 2 o’clock at night ; it was then as bright as day, without the glare of the sun. 
Aug. 17. — After walking two or three miles from Tromso, I came to some capital 
ground ; found the grouse plenty, and blazed away. I soon expended aU my powder 
and shot, having taken with me much less than usual. Nevertheless, I returned in 
time for dinner with a capital bag — ten brace of grouse, two brace of golden plover, 
and an alpine hare. Grouse-shooting is very difficult in this country, as the birds 
are found among birch scrub, and not among heather or in open ground as in Scot- 
land. It is very difficult to keep near your dog, or to keep him in sight. In some 
localities the inhabitants cut the young shoots for winter fodder for their cattle. By 
