202 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
The writer can add nothing to this except that more than one 
form is yet awaiting a name, as between Manitoba and the 
Pacific, so far as our observation goes, it is extremely hard to say 
to what form many of the b’rds belong. 
3004, Canadian Ruffed Grouse. 
Bonasa umbellus togata (LINN.) RipGw. 1885. 
Common on Moose River, James Bay. None observed in Lab- 
rador in 1896. I think they go very little further north in Labra- 
dor than the birch and poplar. (Spreadborough.) 
This is an abundant resident in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, 
Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario. It seems to range 
all through southern Labrador with stragglers well to the north. 
Westward from Ontario it extends across the whole wooded 
country, being found in the spruce forest north of the prairie 
region to the boundaries of the Barren Grounds. The Rocky 
Mountain district may have this species in considerable numbers, 
but having no specimens from there its distribution is still uncer- 
tain. 
East of and including the Coast Range, an abundant resident. 
(Fannin.) Typical birds of this sub-species as well as B. sabinet 
occur in equal numbers as well as every intergradation between 
them in the Lower Fraser valley (4vooks.) Common in the 
interior ; found about thickets that border running water in 
British Columbia. The specimens are identical with those from 
New Brunswick. (S¢-eator.) 
BREEDING Nores.—In the sunny weather towards the begin- 
ning of April if there be a crust on the snow the Ruffed Grouse 
resort to the hillsides facing the sun and the males strut about 
with their tails spread out to their fullest extent and their wings 
trailing on the ground like a turkey cock. If the spring be early 
the males soon begin to drum and continue drumming from a 
month to six weeks. Inthe meantime the females have chosen 
nesting sites on the ground, usually at the root of a tree but 
sometimes under a log or beneath a bush. The eggs in a nest 
vary from nine to thirteen. Upon leaving the nest the female 
always covers the eggs with dry leaves. In summer the young 
and old feed upon larve, insects and berries, and are very fond of 
clover. In the autumn they feed upon black cherries, haws, 
