RASORES : TETRAONIDiE. 239 



covered by a tuft of broad, soft feathers, and the head 

 with a soft crest. 



The Ruffed Grouse, or Partridge, B. umbellus, Steph., 

 of the Eastern United States and westward, is eighteen 

 inches long, and the wing over seven inches ; the color 

 reddish brown or gray above, the back with spots of light- 

 er ; the under parts whitish barred with dull brown ; the 

 feathers of the ruff are black ; the beautiful tail is tipped 

 with gray, and has a subterminal bar of black. This bird 

 prefers the borders of forests, open woods, thickets of 

 evergreens and birches, and the vicinity of brooks shaded 

 with alder. Nothing can excel the grace with which it 

 moves upon the ground. It walks with a proud step, 

 elevated head, the ruffs more or less raised, and its exqui- 

 sitely beautiful tail partly spread. It poises itself a second 

 or two on one foot, then on the other, and at almost every 

 movement utters a soft cluck. If disturbed, it lowers its 

 head, spreads its tail wider, and runs rapidly into the 

 thickest bushes. If there be no hiding-place near, it at 

 once takes wing with the loud whirring which all have 

 heard who have had the pleasure of visiting its favorite 

 resorts. According to Audubon, these sounds are never 

 heard when the bird rises of its own accord, but only 

 when flushed by a real or supposed enemy. The flight 

 is straight, rather low, and under ordinary circumstances 

 not more than one or two hundred yards at a time. If, 

 when flushed, it alights upon a tree, as is often the case 

 in regions where it has not been much hunted, it will 

 generally be found, if at all, on the side farthest from the 

 pursuer, and close to the trunk, and standing so still and 

 erect that one can readily mistake it for a stump of a 

 broken limb. 



The Oregon Grouse, B. Sabinii, Baird, of Western 

 North America, is similar to the preceding one. 



The Genus Lagopus Ptarmigans has the legs 



