lii 



THE I'TKR] I.OGR.II'in Ol' THE lU EEEl) GROUSE 



llio alidomirKil r(j;i(iii ulirn- llic wliili- limis Id a sooty gray and in tlie lighter regions of the 

 head. But occasioiialK the |)himaf:e is rcmarkabl\ clean at the end of the summer when the 

 next moult takes jjlacc. Kiivironmental conditions vary so widcl), however, that this wear 

 may differ considerably between localities. 



Age Variations. Age variations are primarily associated with growth. .At hatching, the 

 chick is covered with down. Within the first day, the (light feathers of the juvenile plumage 

 begin to grow and within three or four weeks the body is fairly well protected by the juvenile 

 feathers. With the possible exception of the remiges, which begin to grow almost innnedi- 

 ately after hatching, it is believed that all the juvenile feathers are preceded by down. The 

 distribution of the down is the same as that of the later plumages with the exception of the 

 changes due to body growth. In the down plumage and juvenile plumage the spaces are, for 

 the most part, evident but are smaller in proportion. Concomitant with the growth of the 

 body, the juvenile plumage presents a gradual spreading out of the tracts and spaces. 



Snowshoes. The "snowshoes", so called, of the ruffed grouse are a uiiicpic temporary 

 grow'th along the sides of the toes, acquired during the fall and shed the following spring. As 

 the name indicates, they increase the surface of the feet I from two to three times I and thereby 

 reduce sinking into the snow. They are included under the heading of feathers since they 

 are derived from the skin and are moulted regularly. They consist of a series of small cuti- 

 cular rods which, in New York State birds, average about 2mni in length*. Growth normally 

 begins about the middle of September and continues for about three weeks. They are usually 

 lost between the latter half of April and the third week of May, although the shedding may 

 begin as early as March. The rods are shed by breaking off at iheir bases in an irregular 

 order, but, more often, first at the base of the toes. 



* Uttal'**' lias rc[iorIf(i these l»» he 



whut longer 



nonhern anil western siihspecies. 



