buds, seeds, leaves and insects, of which 68 per cent is 

 leaves, buds and the tender ends of young twigs; 6.73 

 per cent insects and the balance seeds, berries and 

 the like. The flesh is generally of a fine flavor, though 

 at times it will be found to be tainted a little strongly 

 with the flavor of the pine. 



Color Male Back of head, back of neck and all 

 upper parts, a sooty brown; light streak over the eye 

 and a light throat; breast, a dead or sooty black; the 

 rest of the under parts a slaty gray; tail tipped with 

 gray. 



Female Generally lighter in color but otherwise re- 

 sembling the male. 



Nest and Eggs The nest is usually nothing more than 

 a depression in the ground among dried leaves or grass, 

 well concealed from view. The eggs, which average 

 about a dozen, are of a cream color, spotted with brown. 



Measurements Total length, from 18 to 22 inches; 

 wing, 9 to 9%. The weight will vary from 2% to 4 

 pounds. 



THE OREGON RUFFED GROUSE 

 (Bonasa umbellus sabini) 



The Oregon ruffed grouse is the handsomest species 

 of the ruffed grouse genus, and is truly a beautiful bird 

 with its deep, rich browns, orange and black. The east- 

 ern species of this genus is wrongly known in the north 

 Atlantic states by the name of partridge, and as wrong- 

 ly called pheasant in Virginia and some other of the 

 southern states. The Pacific Coast species ranges from 

 northern California along the Coast range through 

 Oregon, Washington and far into British Columbia. 

 It is a wary bird, full of cunning and gamy qualities. 

 The male of this genus is, I believe, the only member 

 of the grouse family that drums all the year; all others 

 confining their drumming to the nesting season. This 

 drumming is made with the wings and not by the in- 

 flation of an air sack as with other species. The 

 sound, also, is much different, having more of a rolling 

 reverberation. In the spring they will take their posi- 

 tion on some rock or dead log and strut back and forth 

 with their heads thrown back and their tails spread out 

 to show the beautiful hues of the feathers and drum 

 for hours to attract the hens or challenge the other 

 males to an almost life and death combat, in which they 

 fight in the same manner as the game cock. They live 

 among the pines, usually near some little opening where 

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