86 
THE SPOTTED OR C AH ADA GROUSE. 
would remain busily engaged in search of food until sunset, I found the 
night and the following morning fresh and clear. Indeed, I believe that 
this kind of foresight exists in the whole tribe of gallinaceous birds. 
One day, while on the coast of Labrador, I accidentally almost walked 
upon a female Canada Grouse surrounded by her young brood. It was on 
the 18th of July. The affrighted mother, on seeing us, ruffled up all her 
feathers like a common hen, and advanced close to us as if determined to 
defend her offspring. Her distressed condition claimed our forbearance, and 
we allowed her to remain in safety. The moment we retired, she smoothed 
down her plumage, and uttered a tender maternal chuck, when the little 
ones took to their wings, although they were, I can venture to assert, not 
more than one week old, with so much ease and delight, that I felt highly 
pleased at having allowed them to escape. 
Two days afterwards, my youthful and industrious party returned to the 
Ripley with a pair of these Grouse in moult. This species undergoes that 
severe trial at a much earlier season than the Willow Ptarmigan. My son 
reported that some young ones which lie saw with their mother, were able 
to fly fully a hundred yards, and alighted on the low trees, among which he 
caught several of them, which, however, died before he reached the vessel. 
This species is found not only in the State of Maine, but also in the 
mountainous districts of New Hampshire, and the northern parts of New 
York, as well as around our northern great lakes, and the head waters of 
the Missouri. It is abundant in the British provinces of New Brunswick, 
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador. 
Among the great number, procured at all seasons of the year, which I 
have examined, I never found one without the rufous band at the extremity 
of the tail represented in the plate ; nor did I see any having the terminal 
white spot on the upper tail-coverts exhibited in figures of this species. 
Their food consists of berries of different sorts, and the young twigs and 
blossoms of several species of plants. In the summer and autumn I have 
found them gorged with the berries of the plant represented in the plate, 
and which is commonly called “ Solomon’s Seal.” In the winter I have 
seen the crop filled with the short leaves of the larch or ITackmetack. 
I have frequently heard it said that these birds could be knocked down 
with sticks, or that a whole covey could be shot, while perched on trees, 
by beginning at the lowest one ; but I have never witnessed anything of 
the kind, and therefore cannot vouch for the truth of the assertion. During 
the autumn of 1833, these birds were uncommonly abundant in the State 
of Maine. My friend Edward Harris, of New York, Thomas Lincoln, 
and others, killed a great number ; and the last mentioned gentleman pro- 
cured a pair alive, which were fed on oats and did well. 
