NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 115 



471/7. Richardson's Grouse — canace obscura richardsoni. Cream 

 color, marked with small dots of reddish brown, similar to those of the 

 Dusky Grouse; in fact, not distinguishable. Nesting the same. 



Hab. Northern Rocky Mountains of United States and northward. 



472. Canada Grouse; Spruce Partridge — canace canadensis. Fawn 

 color, irregularly splashed, dotted and spotted with different tints of 

 brown; eight to fourteen in number; size about 1.70 by 1.20. The shape 

 is characteristic of Partridge eggs; being like those of the Ptarmigan in 

 form, and sometimes resemble them in ground-color and markings. This 

 bird is a constant resident from Northern New England to the Arctic 

 Circle. The nest is placed on the ground, usually in swaiT\py, quiet 

 localities. It is made of twigs, leaves and grasses, and much art is often 

 displayed to conceal it. 



Hab. Spruce forests and swamps of Northern United States to the Arctic Seas ; west nearly to the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



473. Ruffed Grouse — bonasa umbellus. Dark cream color, some- 

 times faintly blotched with a darker shade of the same, or even speckled 

 with brown; size about 1.66 by 1.20. They are from seven to ten in 

 number. The Ruffed Grouse, Partridge or Pheasant is distributed in 

 wooded districts throughout Eastern North America. This is the typical 

 form in United States to the high central plains, in Canada and the in- 

 terior fur countries, north to Alaska. But the Eastern birds are said to be 

 more or less referable to the Western varieties, B. u. vmbclloides of the 

 Rocky Mountain Region and B. u. sabinei of the Pacific Provinces, from 

 Oregon northward. Like others of its family, this Grouse makes its nest 

 on the ground, between logs, usually in a dense thicket, but wherever 

 placed it is well concealed. It is composed of a few leaves, without any 

 attempt at construction. The "Pheasant" is the game-bird so well 

 known to sportsmen and epicurians throughout United States, but under 

 this name or " Partridge " it is not properly named. 



473/7. Oregon Ruffed Grouse — bonasa umbellus sabinel I have a 

 set of six eggs of this species, collected in Coos county, Oregon, April 28, 

 1880. Their color is a rich creamy- white, unspotted. The nest was a 

 hollow of the ground, made by the bird, and lined with leaves; it was 

 situated partly under a fallen tree, and quite hidden by a growth of 

 bushes. The inside diameter of the nest was about 'six inches, and the 

 depth about four. The eggs exhibit the following dimensions: 1.55 by 

 1. 16, 1.55 by 1. 16, 1.55 by 1. 16, i. 56 by 1. 16, 1.57 by 1. 17. 



Hab. Pacific coast region from the northern boundary of California to Alaska. 



