156 
THE PINNATED GROUSE. 
been for the poor Grouse. Their destroyers con- 
struct for themselves lurking holes made of pine 
branches, called bough houses, within a few yards of 
the parade. Hither they repair with their fowling- 
pieces, in the latter part of the night, and wait the 
appearance of the birds. Watching the moment 
when two are proudljr eyeing each other, or engaged 
in battle, or when a greater number can be seen in 
a range, they pour on them a destructive charge of 
shot. This annoyance has been given in so many 
places, and to such extent, that the Grouse, after 
having been repeatedly disturbeil, are afraid to as- 
semble. On approaching the spot to which their in- 
stinct prompts them, they perch on the neighbour- 
ing trees, instead of alighting at the scratching place. 
And it remains to be observed, how far the restless 
and tormenting spirit of the marksmen may alter 
the native habits of the Grouse, and oblige them to 
betake themselves to new ways of life. 
“ They commonly keep together in coveys, or 
packs, as the phrase is, until the pairing season. A 
full pack consists, of course, of ten or a dozen. Two 
packs have been known to associate. I lately heard 
of one whose number amounted to twenty-two. 
They are so unapt to be startled, that a hunter, as- 
sisted by 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 known to discharge 
several guns before either the report of the explosion. 
