BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 377 



injuring our crops, for it never touched them. It was extir- 

 pated because it was tame and confiding and an "easy mark," 

 giving the gunner or the backwoods loafer a chance to unload 

 his gun and kill something. Formerly this bird sometimes 

 assembled in great flocks. Mr. Manly Hardy of Brewer, Me., 

 is quoted by Dr. Bendire as saying that a pack of many thou- 

 sands was utilized by a tribe of Indians in Nova Scotia to "feed 

 the whole village." 



The male has a curious habit of "drumming" in flight or 

 while climbing the leaning trunk of a tree. The female sits 

 so closely on her eggs that she will almost allow herself to be 

 taken from the nest by hand. Mr. Watson L. Bishop of Kent- 

 ville, N. S., has succeeded in domesticating this bird. 



In summer the Spruce Partridge feeds much on the foliage 

 of spruce and fir, and on berries and insects; the winter food 

 consists largely of the buds of the evergreen trees among which 

 it lives. This Grouse, therefore, is much more palatable in 

 summer and early fall than in winter, which may account in 

 part for its decrease. 



RUFFED GROUSE {Bonasa umbellus umbellus). 



CANADA RUFFED GROUSE {Bonasa umbellus togata). 



Common or local names: Partridge; "Patridge;" Birch Partridge. 



Length. — 16 to 18 inches. 



Adult. — Above variegated reddish brown, yellowish brown or grayish 



brown; large ruffs of glossy black or brown feathers on sides of neck; 



tail long and broad, brown, reddish brown or gray, hghtly barred and 



mottled with Hghter and darker shades; a broad dark band near tip; 



throat buffy; rest of lower parts white, tinged with buffy, barred and 



otherwise marked with darker shades. 

 Young. — Similar to adult. (The Canada Ruffed Grouse is grayer than the 



Ruffed Grouse, has a grayer tail and is more distinctly marked below). 

 Field Marks. — A broad black band near tip of long tail. Large size and 



crested head. 

 Notes. — Besides the drumming of the male, which is not vocal, he has a 



series of vocal clucks and calls. The female when disturbed with her 



young often squeals much like a rabbit. 

 Nest. — Of leaves, etc., on ground. 

 Eggs. — Eight to fourteen, rarely more, creamy buff to creamy white, 



sometimes dotted or speckled with minute brown spots. 



