THE RUFFED GROUSE. 433 



removed, under shelter of log or stump, or in the homogeneous open, where 

 lay her dozen or so of speckled eggs. Occasionally two of these Turkish 

 wives would pool their interests and care for a nest in common. 



In the neighborhood of dwellings domestic Turkey hens I which, by the 

 way, are descendants of Mexican stock, reimported from Europe) were often 

 allowed to associate with the coaxing monarch of the wilds, or were, rarely, 

 entrusted with the care of eggs belonging to their wild sisters. Some modifi- 

 cation of the domestic breed was thus at times effected, but slight, if any, traces 

 of the indigenous stock have survived. 



The little Turks of the woods were as delicate as their tame cousins are 

 known to be, and their careful mothers would shield them from possible damp- 

 ness for hours after a rain had passed. As they grew to adult size they were 

 joined in early fall by their fathers, now quite reformed, and families would 

 join in with neighbors until sometimes great flocks were to be seen scouring 

 the woods for mast, or scattering in noisy flight when the Nemesis of the 

 Turkey-kind appeared. 



No. 194. 



RUFFED GROUSE. 



A. O. U. Xo. 300. Bonasa umbellus (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Partridge ; Pheasant. 



Description. — Adult male: Prevailing color of upper parts cinnamon-ru- 

 fous, varied interminably with black central spots and blotches, buffy stripes and 

 margins (buff in cordate -pots on rump and upper tail-coverts), white or grayish 

 white tips, and "bloom": primaries light fuscous, broadly spotted with ochraceous- 

 buff on external web; tail rufous or grayish, mottled variously with lighter and 

 dusky markings; a broad, subterminal, blackish zone 1 merely indicated on central 

 feathers) bounded on either side by whitish bands; "epaulets" or flaring feather- 

 tuft- on the side of the neck behind, — rich, brownish black, lustrous-tipped, vary- 

 ing to mottled rufous; below, fore part- buffy or ochraceous, plain on chin and 

 throat, dusky-marked and rufous-tinged on cheek- and breast; remaining under 

 parts heavily barred with ochraceous-buff, ochraceous-brown, and dusky, — the 

 latter shade clearest and broadest on flanks, elsewhere more or less obscured by 

 broad white tips of feathers ; tarsi feathered half way down, plain brownish. 

 Adult female: Very similar, but neck-tufts reduced in size and containing more 

 rufous. Young birds are spotted and irregularly striped rather than barred be- 

 low , and have more pronounced dusky bars on the tail. Av. of eight males from 

 Lancaster: length 17.34 (440.41 ; wing j.2$ 1 183.6) ; tail 5. 93 (150.6) : bill from 

 nostril .52 ( 13.2). 



Recognition Marks. — Crow size: cinnamon-rufous, mottled above; drum- 

 ming notes; flaring ruffs distinctive: strictly confined to woodland and brush-lots. 



Nest, on the ground at base of bush, stump, or tree, or under protection of 

 log or brush: indifferently lined with leaves, grass, and a few feathers. Eggs, 

 7-14, usually about 10, ochraceous-buff, usually plain, but sometimes nest-stained, 

 and rarely, speckled with brownish. Av. size. 1.52 x 1.16 (38.6 x 29.5). 



