In the more northern regions are several species of ptarmigan or snow partridges (_Lagopus_), which turn white in winter, and the spruce partridges (_Canachites_); in the more genial climate of the great plains of eastern Canada and in the Far West the ruffled grouse and hazel grouse (_Bonasa_), the sage cocks (_Centrocercus_), the prairie hens (_Tympanuchus_), and the blue or pine grouse (_Dendrapagus_).
"To snare grouse requires no other process than making a few little hedges across a creek, or a few short hedges projecting at right angles from the side of an island of willows, which those birds are found to frequent.

Several openings must be left in each hedge, to admit the birds to pass through, and in each of them a snare must be set; so that when the grouse are hopping along the edge of the willows to feed, which is their usual custom, some of them soon get into the snares, where they are confined till they are taken out.

I have caught from three to ten grouse in a day by this simple contrivance, which requires no further attendance than going round them night and morning" (Hearne).] [Illustration: INDIANS LYING IN WAIT FOR MOOSE] But--a hundred years ago and more--the dominant features in the fauna of the Middle West was the bison.

Between the Athabaska and Saskatchewan Rivers on the north, the Rocky Mountains on the west, and Lake Superior on the east the bison passed backwards and forwards over the great plains and prairies in millions, when white explorers first penetrated these lands.

They moved in herds which concealed the ground from sight for miles.