THE RUFFED GROUSE. 
Ss 
removed, under shelter of log or stump, or in the homogeneous open, where 
lay her dozen or so of speckled eggs. Occasionally two of these Turkish 
wives would pool their interests and care for a nest in common. 
In the neighborhood of dwellings domestic Turkey hens (which, by the 
way, are descendants of Mexican stock, reimported from Europe) were often 
allowed to associate with the coaxing monarch of the wilds, or were, rarely, 
entrusted with the care of eggs belonging to their wild sisters. Some modifi- 
cation of the domestic breed was thus at times effected, but slight, if any, traces 
of the indigenous stock have survived. 
The little Turks of the woods were as delicate as their tame cousins are 
known to be, and their careful mothers would shield them from possible damp- 
ness for hours after a rain had passed. As they grew td adult size they were 
joined in early fall by their fathers, now quite reformed, and families would 
join in with neighbors until sometimes great flocks were to be seen scouring 
the woods for mast, or scattering in noisy flight when the Nemesis of the 
Turkey-kind appeared. 
No. 194. 
RUBFED* GROUSE. 
A. O. U. No. 300. Bonasa umbellus (Linn.). 
Synonyms.—PaArTRIDGE ; PHEASANT. 
Description.—Adult male: Prevailing color of upper parts cimnamon-ru- 
fous, varied interminably with black central spots and blotches, buffy stripes and 
margins (buff in cordate spots on rump and upper tail-coverts), white or grayish 
white tips, and “bloom”; primaries light fuscous, broadly spotted with ochraceous- 
buff on external web; tail rufous or grayish, mottled variously with lighter and 
dusky markings; a broad, subterminal, blackish zone (merely indicated on central 
feathers) bounded on either side by whitish bands; “epaulets” or flaring feather- 
tufts on the side of the neck behind,—rich, brownish black, lustrous-tipped, vary- 
ing to mottled rufous; below, fore parts buffy or ochraceous, plain on chin and 
throat, dusky-marked and rufous-tinged on cheeks and breast; remaining under 
parts heavily barred with ochraceous-buff, ochraceous-brown, and dusky,—the 
latter shade clearest and broadest on flanks, elsewhere more or less obscured by 
broad white tips of feathers; tarsi feathered half way down, plain brownish. 
Adult female: Very similar, but neck-tufts reduced in size and containing more 
rufous. Young birds are spotted and irregularly striped rather than barred be- 
low, and have more pronounced dusky bars on the tail. Av. of eight males from 
Lancaster: length 17.34 (440.4) ; wing 7.23 (183.6) ; tail 5. 93 (150.6) ; bill from 
NOStiile 525 (Gl3s2))p 
Recognition Marks.—Crow size; cinnamon-rufous, mottled above; drum- 
ming notes; flaring ruffs distinctive; strictly confined to woodland and brush-lots. 
Nest, on the ground at base of bush, stump, or tree, or under protection of 
log or brush; indifferently lined with leaves, grass, and a few feathers. Eggs, 
7-14, usually about 10, ochraceous-buff, usually plain, but sometimes nest-stained, 
and rarely, speckled with brownish. Av. size, 1.52 x 1.16 (38.6 x 29.5). 
