A “pack of grouse."

Ruffed Grouse

(Bonasa umbellus)

August 24.

Scare up a pack of grouse.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, August 24, 1855

Context:

• May 26, 1855 (The partridge which on the 12th had left three cold eggs covered up with oak leaves is now sitting on eight. )
• June 10, 1855 (My partridge still sits on seven eggs.)
• June 11, 1856 (A partridge with young in the Saw Mill Brook path... made such a noise and fluttering amid the weeds and bushes. Finally ran offwith its body flat and wings somewhat spread.)
• June 23, 1854 (Disturb three different broods of partridges in my walk this afternoon in different places. )
• June 26, 1857( See a pack of partridges as big as robins at least.)
• July 1, 1860 (I see young partridges not bigger than robins fly three or four rods, not squatting fast, now.)
• July 5, 1856 (Young partridges (with the old bird), as big as robins, make haste into the woods from off the railroad.)
• July 7, 1854 (Disturb two broods of partridges this afternoon, — one a third grown, flying half a dozen rods over the bushes, yet the old, as anxious as ever, rushing to me with the courage of a hen.)
• July 10, 1854 (Partridge, young one third grown.)
• July 23, 1854 (I see broods of partridges later than the others, now the size of the smallest chickens.)
• July 25, 1854 (I now start some packs of partridges, old and young, going off together without mewing.)
• July 28, 1854 (Partridges begin to go off in packs.) 

• August 24, 1855 (Scare up a pack of grouse.)

• August 27, 1852 (Young partridges two-thirds grown burst away.)
• September 18, 1852 (The partridges, grown up, oftener burst away.)
• September 18, 1857 ( We started a pack of grouse, which went off  with a whir like cannon-balls.

See A Book of the Seasons,  by Henry Thoreau, The Partridge