388 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
also acorns. They usually roost upon the ground, but often 
resort to trees, especially in cold weather, during which they 
continue to reside in their summer-haunts. They fly less rap- 
idly and with less whirr than the Ruffed Grouse, and walk 
rather less gracefully. At the mating-season, the males become 
very pompous and pugnacious. They meet in the morning at 
an early hour, and engage in fierce combat. 
(d). It is at this time that they produce their peculiar boom- 
ing, or *‘tooting,” which is so loud that it may be heard at the 
distance of several miles. Their ordinary note is the chucking 
which belongs to other grouse. 
_ The “ Prairie Hens” are still abundant in the West, whence 
thousands are forwarded to Eastern markets. Their gradual 
extermination is greatly to be regretted. 
III. BONASA 
(A) umBEeLLus. Ruffed Grouse. ‘* Partridge.” ‘ Pheasant.” 
(In many parts of New England, a common resident 
throughout the year.) 
(a). About eighteen inches long. Above, reddish-brown, 
with numerous gray edgings. Erectile crown-feathers, and in- 
terscapulars, marked with black. Ruff-feathers on the sides 
of the neck, dark brown or black, with two or three metallic 
bars. Back, minutely speckled with black, and streaked with 
light grayish spots, which are black-edged. ‘Tail, gray, with a 
broad subterminal black band; elsewhere paler, or reddish, 
barred and finely vermiculated with black. Primaries marked 
with whitish on the outer webs. Under parts, tawny, becoming 
white behind. Throat, unmarked or slightly waved; breast, 
with dull brown bars, dark-edged above; sides, with umber 
bars. The tail usually bas eighteen feathers, and is rounded, 
as in the ‘ Prairie Hen,” but is considerably longer. The 
auriculars (or ear-feathers) are long and loose. 
(b). The eggs average 1°65 X 1:25 of an inch, vary from 
drab-buff to rich reddish buff, and are sometimes spotted. 
From eight to fifteen are laid together in the latter part of 
May. The nest consists of a few leaves and grasses placed 
