THE OREGON RUFFED GROUSE. 587 
No. 234. 
OREGON RUFFED GROUSE. 
A. O. U. No. 300c. Bonasa umbellus sabini (Dougl.). 
Synonyms.— PHEASANT.” BusH PHEASANT. “PartripGe.”’  RUEFFED 
Grouse. DRUMMER. REp-TAIL. 
Description.—Similar to B. u. togata, but gray of upperparts persistent only 
as bordering of subterminal tail-band; ground-color of upperparts rich rusty 
brown; underparts more deeply tinged with buffy or buffy brown, markings 
heavier, more extensive, and with more of blackish; throat ochraceous or orange- 
tawny. 
Recognition Marks.—As in preceding, browner; tail always(?) rich rusty 
brown. 
Nesting.—Much as in preceding form. Eggs more warmly tinted. 
General Range.—Pacific Coast district from Humboldt County, California, 
north to British Columbia. ; 
Range in Washington.—Resident thruout western Washington, but more 
common in vicinity of streams, and in groves of the prairie counties. 
Authorities.—[Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle: Coues, Vol. 
II., pp. 182, 183.] B. sabinii, Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX., 1858, p. 
git, “We (CiegSp Jes Woe Vos Ieee Ved ics 1e}e J 
Specimens.—(U. of \V.) Prov. B. E. 
PERHAPS the most exquisite product of our somber western woods 
is this handsome Grouse with his plumage of warm browns and woodsy 
buffs, relieved by touches of white, and set off by the glossy black of neck 
ornaments, or ruffs. Nature has painted her favorite to match the moulder- 
ing logs of red fir, cross-hatched as they are by the infinite traceries of the 
under-forest. When he steps forth at the sound of your footstep into 
some woodland path, alert yet curious, with ruffs half-raised and_ tail 
partly opened, you feel as if the very beauty of nature had found con- 
crete expression, and that the vision would fade again if you breathed too 
heavily. 
If not pressed, the bird will presently hop up on some fallen log, the 
better to see and be seen; or else trip away satisfied into some mossy covert. 
Or it may take suddenly to wing, with a roar which you feel to be quite 
needless, especially when exaggerated by a series of grunts which must be 
partly derisive. 
From the point of view of the sportsman this bird is not to be com- 
pared with the Ruffed Grouse of the Eastern States. Its cover is too 
abundant, and it does not take the discipline which has educated the wily 
