THE CANADIAN RL'FFED GROUSE. 583 



we can testify to personally is that the chicks are able to fly at an increflibly 

 early age. With such a start it wnuld seem that they nn'ght keep well mit of 

 harm's \va\', insteatl of offering themseh'es as a target to the first passerby. 



No. 233. 



CANADIAN RUFFED GROUSE. 



A. O. U. No. 300a. Bonasa umbellus togata (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — I'iieasaxt. PARTRn>r.i:. Ruffed C.roush. DRUitMHR. Grav- 



TAIL. 



Description. — Adult male: Neck-tufts of lengthened feathers glossy black; 

 above warm brown or gray, varied in endless pattern by black, white, and ochra- 

 ceons markings ; tail normally gray but sometimes brownish, crossed by six or 

 seven narrow bands and one broad subtcrminal band of black, tipped with light 

 gray; throat huffy or ochraceous ; undcrparts mixed white and Iniffv. heavilv 

 barred with brown, each laar bordered narrowly with dusky, marks on flanks en- 

 tirely dark brown or blackish. .Idiilt fciiiair: similar to male but smaller and 

 neck-tufts much reduced in size. Length of adult: 15.00-10.00 (381-482.6): 

 wing 7.00-7.50 (177.8-190.5 ) : tail 5.50-7.OO ( 139.7-177.8 1. 



Recognition Marks. — I^ittle Hawk to Crow size : neck ruffs and varied 

 brown and gray coloration unmistakable : tail normally grav as compared with 

 next form. 



Nesting. — Xrst: a slight dejiression at base of tree or bush-clumji in low 

 woods, sparingly lined with twigs and dead leaves. Eggs: 8-14, creamy white to 

 creamy buff", unmarked or sjiaringly speckled with ])ale rufous. Av. size, 1.62 x 

 1. 21 (41.2x30.8). Season: May: one brood. 



General Range. — "Resident in Canadian zone forests of the northeastern 

 L'nited States, British I^rovinces, and eastern parts of Oregon and Washington" 

 (Bailey). 



Range in Washington. — Resident in timbered valleys of eastern Washing- 

 ton, chiefly along eastern sKjpes of Cascades, intergrading with B. 11. sabiiii on 

 western slopes of Cascades and. rarely, descending to sea-level. 



Authorities. — ["Grav ruft'ed grouse," Jolmson, Rep. Gov. W. T. 1884 ('1883) 

 27,.] Bendire, Life Hist.'N. A. Birds, \'oi J. 1892, p. 64. D'. D-'. J. E. 



Specimens. — Prov. B. 



LIKE tlie Partridge of the East, our \\'ashingt(in drummer prefers de- 

 ciduous timber. On this account, therefore, it keeps largely to the bottom 

 lands along river courses, and the deeper valleys of the mountains. 



Appreciation of the Ruffed Grouse is about equallv divided lietween the 

 nature-lover and the s])(irtsman. Be he gunner or poet there is none who can 



