68 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



Order GALLING. Gallinaceous Birds. 



Suborder PHASIANI. Pheasants, Grouse, Partridges, 



Quails, etc. 



Family ODONTOPHORIME. Bob-whites, Quails, etc. 



Colinus virginianus virginianus (Linnaeus). Bob-white. 



A common resident, especially near the coast, but rather rare 

 in the northwestern part of the state. 



Nest. Eggs laid on a bed of leaves, on the ground in a field 

 or meadow. 



Eggs. 10-32 ; in June. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. June 4, 1902, twenty eggs 

 (Beers and J. C. A. M.). Latest record. Aug. 7, 1892, fourteen 

 eggs (Beers). 



A nest containing thirty-two eggs of this species (possibly laid 

 by two females) was seen in North Haven by H. W. F. in the 

 spring of 1903, and on revisiting the nest a few days later he 

 found that all had hatched. 



This species suffered severely during the cold winters of 

 1903-4 and 1904-5, and was almost exterminated over a large 

 part of the state. Since then, and for some years earlier, large 

 numbers of Quail from the South and West have been released, 

 so that now it is impossible to determine what proportion of 

 Connecticut Quail are descendants of the original stock. 



Family TETRAONIDiE. Grouse, Spruce Partridges, 



Ptarmigans, etc. 



Bonasa umbellus umbellus (Linnaeus). Ruffed Grouse. 



A common resident. 



Nest. Eggs laid on the ground under a log or fence or at the 

 foot of a stump in the woods or brush land. 



Eggs. 12-16; early in May. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 4, 1892, fifteen eggs 

 (Beers). Latest record. May 26, 1885, thirteen eggs (L. B. B.). 



An interesting albino taken by Mr. C. E. Ailing, Litchfield, 

 Oct., 1903, is entirely grayish or yellowish-white, the latter shade 

 predominating on the head and upper parts. The dark mark- 



