149 



THE RUFFED GROUSE* 



Tetrao umbellus. LINNAEUS. 



PLATE XIV. 



Tetrao umbellus, Linn&us __ Northern Zool. Ruffed Heath- 

 cock, Edwards. Bonasia umbellus, Bonaparte. Ruffed 

 Grouse, Wilson, Audubon. 



THIS curious and beautiful grouse is found from 

 the 56 parallel to the Gulf of Mexico. It is com- 

 mon in Pennsylvania and the United States, and 

 very abundant in the Kentucky and Indiana territory, 

 and it was found on the banks of the Saskatche- 

 wan by the Northern expedition, frequenting the 

 horse-paths and cleared spaces about the forts. The 

 following account of the manners of this bird, given 

 by Alexander Wilson,,- will be acceptable : 



'* The manners of the pheasant are solitary ; they 

 are seldom found in coveys of more than four or five 

 together, and more usually in pairs, or singly. They 

 leave their sequestered haunts in the woods early in 

 the morning, and seek the path or road, to pick up 

 gravel, and glean among the droppings of the horses. 

 In travelling among the mountains that bound the 

 Susquehanna, I was always able to furnish myself 

 with an abundant supply of these birds every morn- 



