THE OREGON RUFFED GROUSE. 587 



No. 234- 



OREGON RUFFED GROUSE. 



A. O. U. No. 300c. Bonasa umbellus sabini (Dougl.). 



Synonyms. — "Pheasant." Bush Pheasant. "Partridge." Ruffed 

 Grouse. Drummer. Red-taie. 



Description. — Similar to B. n. toijata, but gray of upperparts persistent only 

 as bordering of subterminal tail-band; ground-color of upperparts rich rusty 

 brown; underparts more deeply tinged with buffy or huffy brown, markings 

 heavier, more extensive, and witli more of blackish ; throat ochraceous or orange- 

 tawny. 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding, browner; tail always f ?) rich rusty 

 brown. 



Nesting. — Much as in preceding form. Eggs more warmly tinted. 



General Range. — Pacific Coast district from Humboldt County, California, 

 north to P.ritish Columbia. 



Range in Washington. — Resident thruout western Washington, but more 

 common in vicinitv of streams, and in groves of the prairie counties. 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. ( 1814) Ed. P.iddle : Cones, \'ol. 

 IL, pp. 182, 183.] B. sabiiiii, Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX., 1858, p. 

 631. T. C&S. L'. Rh. Kb. Ra. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens.— (U. of W.) Prov. B. E. 



PERHAPS the most exquisite product of our somber western woods 

 is this handsome Grouse with his plumage of warm browns and woodsy 

 buffs, relieved by touches of wliite, and set ofY by the glossy black of neck 

 ornaments, or rufTs. Nature has painted her favorite to match the moulder- 

 ing logs of red fir, cross-hatched as they are by the infinite traceries of the 

 under-forest. When he steps forth at the sound of }-our footstep into 

 some woodland path, alert vet curious, with rufTs half -raised and tail 

 partlv opened, you feel as if the \er\- beauty of nature had found con- 

 crete expression, and that the vision would fade again if ynu breathed too 

 heavily. 



If not pressed, the bird will presently hop up on some fallen log, the 

 better to see and be seen; or else trip away satisfied into some mossy covert. 

 Or it mav take suddenly to wing, with a roar which you feel to be quite 

 needless, especial!)- when exaggerated b}' a series of grunts wliich must be 

 partly derisive. 



From the point of \'iew of the sportsman this bird is not to be com- 

 pared with the Ruffed Grouse of the Eastern States. Its cover is too 

 abundant, and it does not take the discipline which has educated the wily 



