48 THE RUFFED GROUSE. 



THE RUFFED GROUSE. 



One of my townsmen has just brought a pair of beautiful 

 Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbella), male and female, and 

 wishes them mounted. He has described the attitudes he 

 prefers; the male, "as if he was just goin' to fly," and the 

 female, "as if she was harkin'." I will try to comply with 

 the request. These birds remind me of an incident of a few 

 years ago. One of my most esteemed parishioners, on going 

 out into his door-yard at break of day, early in November, 

 found a beautiful male of the Ruffed Grouse promenading 

 about like a domestic fowl. On attempting to fly over the 

 barn it struck the ridge of the roof and fell dead on the 

 other side. He brought it to me, and, on dissection, its 

 breast proved to be completely bruised. In more super- 

 stitious times this might have been regarded as an evil 

 omen, for a few months afterwards this same man was 

 instantaneously killed. 



These birds before me are specially characteristic of 

 Eastern North America, and have a history, which cannot 

 fail to interest the lover of nature. The man who procured 

 them might well be impressed with their movements and 

 attitudes, for they are every way marked and pleasing. 



"On the ground," says Audubon, "where the Ruffed 

 Grouse spends a large portion of its time, its motions are 

 peculiarly graceful. It walks with an elevated, firm step, 

 opening its beautiful tail gently and with a well-marked 

 jet, holding erect its head, the feathers of which are fre- 

 quently raised, as are the velvety tufts of its neck. It poises 

 its body on one foot for several seconds at a time, and utters 

 a soft cluck, which in itself implies a degree of confidence in 

 the bird that its tout ensemble is deserving of the notice of 

 any bystander. Should the bird discover that it is observed, 

 its step immediately changes to a rapid run, its head is 



