Open Nests in Woods, Thickets, Swampy Thickets 



The nesting season in the neighbourhood of New York begins 

 about April 25th. The period of incubation occupies about 18 

 days, the young leaving the nest as soon as hatched, and after a 

 few days being able to fly. 



When the old bird is driven from her nest she starts off with 

 one or both wings, and perhaps a leg, apparently broken, and 

 after scrambling on the ground for a few yards, she scales along 

 until about a hundred feet away, and then takes flight. If she is 

 found with her brood of chicks she acts in a most remarkable 

 manner, either attacking the disturber or else feigning complete 

 powerlessness, thus diverting attention long enough to enable 

 the young to hide. 



Near where I am now living (South Orange, N. J.) the 

 woodsmen say that the partridge always build at the foot of a 

 white oak. There seems to be some truth in the saying, so far 

 as this immediate neighbourhood is concerned, as all the nests I 

 have seen hereabouts were at the foot of white oaks. 



300a. Canadian Ruffed Grouse : B. u. togata (Linn.) 



This is a sub-species of the ruffed grouse. Its grayish instead 

 of buffy or rusty colour on the back, and the bars being more dis- 

 tinct on the under parts, especially on the belly, are the chief 

 points of variance. 



Breeding Range — Northern New York, Maine, and Vermont, north- 

 wards. 



These birds vary greatly in colour; in some instances they 

 may be mistaken for the common ruffed grouse, as specimens 

 showing all the intermediate gradations of colour have been 

 taken. 



306. Heath Hen: Tympanuchus cupido (Linn.) 



These birds bear a close resemblance to the prairie hen, the 

 principal difference being in the neck tufts, which are pointed 

 instead of rounded. Length — 18.00. 



Breeding Range — Martha's Vineyard. 



Nest on the ground ; eggs brownish drab or buff. Size— 

 1.73 X 1.29. 



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