FRANKLIN'S GROUSE. 59 



James, on June 9 of the same year. The nest was merely a slight depres- 

 sion in the ground, and was lined with a few decayed leaves. Two of the 

 eggs contained well-formed emlnyos and the third was addled. 



Through tlie kindness of Mr. W. E. Traill, in charge of one of the Hud- 

 son Bay Company posts in British C(ilund)ia, parts of three sets of these rare 

 eggs, fifteen in number, were collected during tlie season of 1890; taken on 

 May 20, 27, and 30, respectively. The nests were shallow depressions in the 

 moss-covered ground, lined with bits of dry grass, and were placed at the 

 borders of spruce thickets. lUe eggs were fresh when found. Tliey resemble 

 tliose of the Canada Grouse in shape, color, and markings, but average a trifle 

 smaller. 



The average size of twenty-tlu-ee specimens in the U. S. National Museum 

 collection is 42 by 31 millimetres; the largest egg measuring 45 by 32.5, 

 tlie smallest 38.5 by 30 millimetres. As they are similar to those of the pre- 

 ceding species, none are figui-ed. 



20. Bonasa umbellus (Linn^us). 



RUFFED GROUSE. 



Tetrao ^imbeUits Linn^us, Systema Naturae, ed. 13, i, 1766, 375, 

 Bonasa umbeUus Stephens, General ZoOlogy, xi, 1819, 300. 



(B 465, C 385, R 473, C 565, U 300.) 



Geographical range: Eastern United States, west to edge of Great Plains (?); 

 north to Massachusetts (lowlands), Minnesota, southern Ontario, Canada: south to 

 northern South Carolina and northwestern Georgia (uplands), Tennessee, Arkansas, etc. 



Tlie typical Rufifed Grouse or Partridge of the Northern States and tlie 

 Pheasant of the South, inhabits and breeds throughout the wooded sections of 

 the eastern United States, from Massachusetts westward, through New York, 

 Penusylvania, ()hio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the southeastern por- 

 tions of North and South Dakota, thence south through southeastern Nebraska 

 and Missouri, the mou ^tainous regions of Arkansas, eastern Tennessee, western 

 North Gai'olina, iKn-theastern Alal)am;i, northwestern Georgia, and northern 

 South Carolina, as well as in the remaining States included within the bounda- 

 ries mentioned. Throughout its southern range the Ruflfed Grouse is mostly 

 confined to tlie mountain regions, and is seldom if ever found in the lowlands 

 durino- the bi'eediu"- season. In the New Eiio-land States north of ^lassachu- 

 setts it intergrades witli B. nmheUits fogafa, the majority of the specimens found 

 throughout southern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and northern New 

 York being scarcely referable to either form, birds found in the high lands 

 approaching the Canadian Ruffed Grouse, while those in the valleys, are nearer 

 tyjiical Bonasa itnihclliis. The Ruffed Grouse found in southern Ontario, Can- 

 ada, are referable to this race. 



