224 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



mon in the evergreen forests of the north, and are usually resi- 

 dent where found. (Spruce Partridge.) 



Length, 14]-17; wing, 7 (6\-7|) ; tail, o; culraen, \. Northern por- 

 tions of Minnesota, Michigan, New York, and New England, and nortli- 

 ward and westward to Alaska. 



6. Ruffed Grouse (300. BoniXsa umbl'Uus). — A large, coramon, 

 woodland-living, Ijrown-mottled grouse, Avith a gloss}- black ruff 

 of feathers on each side of the neck, and a dark band near the 



end of the broad, fan- 

 shaped tail. The fe- 

 male has the neck ruff 

 much smaller. The 

 male produces a loud 

 •■drumming"' noise by 

 rapidly Iteating the 

 air with his wings. 

 This bird is improper- 

 ly called '• partridge " 

 in the New England 

 States, and just as im- 

 properly " pheasant " 

 in the ]\Iiddle and 

 Southern States. 



tail, OJ ; culmen, \. United States 



Hitlicrn ("aiKida and sontli to Georgia, 



Buffed Grouse 



Length, 15J-19 ; wing, 1\ (7-7J) 

 from Minnesota eastward, north to s 



Mississippi, and Arkansas. The Canadian Ruffed Grouse (.JDOn. B. u. 

 togata), of the spruce forests of the northern portions of New York and 

 New England, north to the southern portion of Hudson Bay, and west- 

 ward to Oregon and British Columbia, differs in having the upper parts 

 gray rather tlian reddish-brown, and the lower parts, including the breast 

 and belly, fully barred. 



7. Willow Ptarmigan (301. Jjir/dpiis hujdjnts). — An extreme 

 northern, large ptarmigan with blackish outer tail feathers, and 

 a coloration of body depending on the season. In winter the 

 whole body is white ; in summer the back, head, and neck are 

 mottled in browns or rufous. The female in summer has the 

 plumage more regularly and more fully barred with rufous. 



