202 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



One was found in the hemlock woods of Gloucester, by S. Jillson, in 

 September, 185 1. 1 



There is only one other record from the State according to Howe and 

 Allen 2 : a bird shot in Roxbury, in November, a few years prior to 1869. 



134 [300] Bonasa umbellus (Linn.). 

 Ruffed Grouse; " Partridge." 



Common permanent resident. 



Eggs : May 7 to June 2. 



Although birds with gray tails are common, the Ruffed Grouse of this 

 County are perhaps more nearly umbellus than togata. This is a point, how- 

 ever, where a study of a large number of specimens would be needed and 1 

 shall leave the question unsettled. Mr. Dearborn, 3 speaking of Durham, just 

 over the line, in New Hampshire, says : "This region is the border land between 

 the habitat of the Canadian form {Bonasa umbellus togata) and that of umbellus 

 proper, and the majority of birds can hardly be said to be either the one form or 

 the other. As a rule, however, the gray Canadian form predominates." Dr. G. 

 M. Allen 4 says : " Typical examples of B. umbellus umbellus apparently do not 

 occur in New Hampshire. Birds from the southeastern portions of the state 

 are usually more or less intermediate, but nearer togata." 



135 [301] Lagopus lagopus (Linn.). 

 Willow Ptarmigan. 



Accidental visitor from the north. 



There is only one record for the County, the only one also for the State, 

 namely, a bird shot at Manchester on May 10th, 1859, and now in the Essex 

 County collection of the Peabody Academy. It is entered in the catalogue with 

 the remark: " Supposed to be an escaped bird brought from Labrador," and Dr. 



1 F. W. Putnam : Proc. Essex Inst., vol. I, p. 224, 1S56. 



2 R. H. Howe, Jr., and G. M. Allen: The Birds of Massachusetts, p. 15, 1901. 



3 Ned Dearborn: The Birds of Durham and Vicinity, p. 40, 1903. 



*G. M. Allen: Proc. Manchester Inst. Arts and Sci., vol. 4, p. 93, 1903 [= 1904]. 



