GROUSE, SPRUCE PARTRIDGES 



])unc'li of fprass near the foot of a tree or under 

 a fallen tree top. The eggs are seven to ten 

 in number, ereamy white, spotted with brown 

 over the entire surface. 



Oregon ruffed grouse, Bonasa umhellus 

 sabini. \1 .o\) 



Distribution: Resident in Pacific Coast 

 districts from British Columbia south to 

 northern California west of the Cascade 

 ]\ Fountains. Two closely allied species are 

 the Canadian ruffed grouse of northeastern 

 British Columbia and the eastern parts of 

 Washington and Oregon ; and the gray ruffed 

 grouse of the central Rocky INIountain dis- 

 trict of the United States, British America 

 and Alaska. 



The Oregon ruffed grouse, native pheasant, 

 bush pheasant, partridge, or drummer, is a 

 bird of the forest like the sooty grouse, with 

 similar food and nesting habits. When sud- 

 denly flushed its brown mottled plumage and 

 long black-l)anded tail will distinguish it from 

 all others of the family. It is a commoner 

 l)ird a})out the settlements than the sooty 

 grouse, being often met with in the mixed 

 woods in the valleys and along streams. Its 

 scanty nest is hidden under a fallen tree top 

 or in a thick clump of brush at the foot of a 

 137 



