TKTRAONID.li— THE GROUSE, BTC. 9 



N. B. ; G. A. Boarihuan) : Brawn above, and dingy white bi^noath; a rufotis tinge, on the 

 scapuliirs. Foa'hers of the jugulum, bacic, scapulars, and wing-eovorts with broad median 

 strealcs of light oohraceous. and black spots on tho webs; jugulum witji a strong bulT tinge. 

 Secondaries and wing coverts strongly mottlod transversely. Head dingy buff, the upper 

 part more rusty; a postooular or auricular dusky patch, and a tuft of dusky feathers on the 

 vertex. Chick: Above light rufous, beneath rusty white; uniform above and below; a 

 dusky postocular streak inclining downwards across the auriculars. Bill whitish." (Hist. 

 N. Am.B.) 



The Ruffed Grouse or '•I'lieastint' as it is popularly known, 

 is found throughout the State in wooded districts, becomiuj;; 

 more rare southward. It is uncommon in the vicinity 

 of Mount Carmel, and is growing le.so so as the woods become 

 cleared. 



The Ruffed (Jrouse is a constant resident in the districts 

 where it occurs, and, as a general rule, is in no sense migratory, 

 though it is stated by Audubon that in some regions where 

 they are very abundant they perform partial sorties at the ap- 

 proach of autumn. These onl}' occur in mountainous regions, in 

 which during the winter months there is an insufficiency' of food. 



"The flight of this Grouse is low, straightforward, and rarely 

 protracted more than a few hundred yards at a time. It is 

 somewhat stiff, and performed with freijueut, almost continual, 

 beatings of the wings. When it is flushed from the nest, or is 

 suddenly startled from the ground by a dog, it rises with a 

 long whirring sound, which noise, however, is not nmde when 

 the bird rises of its own accord. Its movements on the ground 

 are very stately and graceful, except when it is approached too 

 near, when it runs in a rapid manner, lowers its head and 

 spreads its tail, and either seeks shelter or takes to flight. 

 When it hides in the bushes, it usually s(|uats and remains 

 close." (Bi(icwi;i(.) 



On few nmtters ijertainiiig to our birds has there been greater 

 difference of opinion than as to the manner in which the drum- 

 ming sound of this species is produced. In the Aim-riani Sj>i>/-f(i- 

 iiutn for February 21, 1874, the writer gave a general review of 

 what had been published on the subject, sujiplemented by some 

 oi-iginal information received fiom Mr. 11. W. lieiishaw, which 

 were to the effect that the sound was | nod need by hard strokes 

 of tho wings, both downward and forward, hut irltliont iDiirliiiiii 

 tin- hoihj „f tlir linil. 



