210 THE COUGAR.
had left them. These we soon saddled, and jogging along, in a direct
course, guided by the sun, congratulating each other on the destruction
of so formidable a neighbour as the panther had been, we soon arrived
at my host's cabin. The five neighbours partook of such refreshment as
the house could afford, and dispersing, returned to their homes, leaving
me to follow my favourite pursuits.
T H E R U F F E D GROUSE.
TETRAO UMBELLUS, LINN.
P L A T E X L I . MALE AND FEMALE.
You are now presented, kind reader, with a species of Grouse, which,
in my humble opinion, far surpasses as an article of food every other
land-bird which we have in the United States, except the Wild Turkey,
when in good condition. You must not be surprised that I thus express
an opinion contradictory to that of our Eastern epicures, who greatly
prefer the flesh of the Pinnated Grouse to that of the present species, for
I have had abundant opportunity of knowing both. Perhaps, after all,
the preference may depend upon a peculiarity in my own taste ; or I may
give the superiority to the Ruffed Grouse, because it is as rarely met
with in the Southern States, where I have chiefly resided, as the Pinnated
Grouse is in the Middle Districts; and were the bon-vivants of our eastern
cities to be occasionally satiated with the latter birds, as I have been,
they might possibly think their flesh as dry and flavourless as I do.
The names of Pheasant and Partridge have been given to the present
species by our forefathers, in the different districts where it is found.
To the west of the Alleghanies, and on these mountains, the first name
is generally used. The same appellation is employed in the Middle Districts,
to the east of the mountains, and until you enter the State of Connecticut
; after which that of Partridge prevails.
The Ruffed Grouse, although a constant resident in the districts which
it frequents, performs partial sorties at the approach of autumn. These
are not equal in extent to the peregrinations of the Wild Turkey, our
little Partridge, or the Pinnated Grouse, but are sufficiently so to become
observable during the seasons when certain portions of the mountainous
districts which they inhabit become less abundantly supplied with food
than others. These partial movings might not be noticed, were not the
birds obliged to fly across rivers of great breadth, as whilst in the mountain
lands their groups are as numerous as those which attempt these migrations
; but on the north-west banks of the Ohio and Susquehanna
rivers, no one who pays the least attention to the manners and habits of
our birds, can fail to observe them. The Grouse approach the banks of
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