THE CANADIAN RUFFED GROUSE. 583 
x 
we can testify to personally is that the chicks are able to fly at an incredibly 
early age. With such a start it would seem that they might keep well out of 
harm's way, instead of offering themselves as a target to the first passerby. 
No. 233. 
CANADIAN RUFFED GROUSE. 
A. O. U. No. 300a. Bonasa umbellus togata (Linn.). 
Synonyms.—PHEASANT. PARTRIDGE. RUFFED Grouse. DRUMMER. GRAY- 
TAIL. 
Description.—4 dult male: Neck-tufts of lengthened feathers glossy black; 
above warm brown or gray, varied in endless pattern by black, white, and ochra- 
ceous markings; tail normally gray but sometimes brownish, crossed by six or 
seven narrow bands and one broad subterminal band of black, tipped with light 
gray; throat buffy or ochraceous; underparts mixed white and buffy, heavily 
barred with brown, each bar bordered narrowly with dusky, marks on flanks en- 
tirely dark brown or blackish. Adult female: similar to male but smaller and 
neck-tufts much reduced in size. Length of adult: 15.00-19.00 (381-482.6) ; 
wing 7.00-7.50 (177.8-190.5) ; tail 5.50-7.00 (139.7-177.8). 
Recognition Marks.—Little Hawk to Crow size; neck ruffs and varied 
brown and gray coloration unmistakable; tail normally gray as compared with 
next form. 
Nesting.—WNest: a slight depression at base of tree or bush-clump in low 
woods, sparingly lined with twigs and dead leaves. Eggs: 8-14, creamy white to 
creamy buff, unmarked or sparingly speckled with pale rufous. Av. size, 1.62 x 
1.21 (41.2x 30.8). Season: May; one brood. 
General Range.— ‘Resident in Canadian zone forests of the northeastern 
United States, British Provinces, and eastern parts of Oregon and Washington” 
( Bailey ). 
Range in Washington.—Resident in timbered valleys of eastern Washing- 
ton, chiefly along eastern slopes of Cascades, intergrading with B. wu. sabini on 
western slopes of Cascades and, rarely, descending to sea-level. 
Authorities.—| ‘Gray ruffed grouse,” Johnson, Rep. Gov. W. 'T’. 1884 (1885) 
284 ee bendire;deie tist. No AS Birds) Voli 1892)prie4. D"D2 J. B: 
> 
Specimens.— Prov. B. 
LIKE the Partridge of the East, our Washington drummer prefers de- 
ciduous timber. On this account, therefore, it keeps largely to the bottom 
lands along river courses, and the deeper valleys of the mountains. 
Appreciation of the Ruffed Grouse is about equally divided between the 
nature-lover and the sportsman. Be he gunner or poet there is none who can 
