324 
TETRAD CUPIDO. 
and andromedas, as I passed througli the wilderness ; 
and that, w’hero there is w'atcr, craneherries, alders, 
beeches, maples, and other lovers of moisture, take their 
stations. 
“ This region, situated thus between the more thickly 
inhabited strips or belts on the north and south sides of 
the island, is much travelled by wagons, and intersected 
accordingly, by a great number of paths. 
“ As to the birds themselves, the information I possess 
scarcely amounts to an entire history. You, w ho know' 
the difliculty of collecting facts, will be the most ready 
to excuse my dehciencics. The information I give yon 
is such as I rely on. For the purpose of gathering the 
materials, I have repeatedly visited their haunts, f 
have likewise conversed with several nien who were 
brought up at the precincts of the grouse-ground, who 
had been witnesses of their habits and manners, who 
were accustomed to shoot them for the market, and 
who have acted as guides to gentlemen who go there 
for sport. 
“ Bulk . — An adult grouse, when fat, weighs as much 
as a barn door fowl of moderate size, or about three 
pounds avoirdupois. But the eagerness of the sportS" 
man is so great, that a large proportion of those they 
kill are but a few months old, and have not attained theit 
complete growth. Kotwithstandiug the protection of 
the law, it is very common to disregard it. The retii"®^ 
nature of the situation favours this. It is well undet" 
stood that an arrangement can be made w hich w>h 
blind and silence informers, and that the gun is fired 
with impunity for weeks before the time prescribed i® 
the act. To prevent this unfair and unlawful practice) 
an association was fonned a few years ago, under the 
title of the Brush Club, with the express and avowed 
intention of enforcing the game law. Little beiiefifi 
however, has resulted fi-om its laudable exertions’ 
and under a conviction that it was impossible to keep 
the poachers away, the society declined. At present 
the statute may be considered as operating very litf^t' 
towards their preservation. Grouse, especiallyfullgroW® 
