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female of the Ruffed Grouse are not distinguished by 

 any marked differences in plumage. I supposed at 

 first that strutting was definite indication Of male sex, 

 but doubt if this is the case with young birds. With 

 Turkeys the young of both sexes strut. At any rate, 

 all the birds that I have reared from tlie egg have 

 strutted more or less, and still, from their size and 

 other characteristics of head and neck, I am inclined 

 to think that three of them are females. Neither of 

 the wild birds have shewn any signs of strutting, 

 although apparently perfectly at home with the others. 



As far as domesticability is concerned, our Ruffed 

 Grouse are tamer than most barn yard fowls. They 

 have not evinced instincts of fear at any time to any 

 remarkable degree. They feed readily from the hand, 

 and will hop upon the knee — even the wild ones — to 

 do so. They have not drummed as yet, but it is to be 

 hoped they will in the spring. The outlook is good 

 for nests and broods next season, if present health 

 and vigour of the birds can be taken as an indication 

 of future possibilities. 



[The above interesting article was written at the end of 

 November last year. An account of Professor Hodge's ex- 

 periences with these birds during the past season would be 

 welcomed by our readers. — Ed.] 



