THE BUFFED GEOUSE. 209 



At the northern end of Lake Simcoe I found them very 

 abundant, also on the hill-sides that cradle in the lovely, 

 peaceful Lake Umbagog in Oxford County, Maine ; but 

 western Maryland and Virginia are also favourite haunts 

 in fact, it may be found everywhere where wood, water, and 

 hill-side combine to form for it a suitable haunt, between 

 82 and 50 degrees of north latitude. No. 6 shot I prefer 

 for shooting ruffed grouse, as from the nature of the ground 

 on which they are found, more birds are killed at short 

 range than at longer distances. 



The characteristics of the ruifed grouse make them better 

 adapted for a residence in England than the prairie hen ; 

 and so strongly am I disposed in their favour, that I be- 

 lieve if once introduced they would, as soon as known, 

 out-rival the pheasant in popularity, being much hardier, 

 swifter on the wing, lying better to dogs, disinclined to run 

 before flushing, requiring the quickest and straightest aim 

 to bring them to bag ; moreover, independent of these 

 sporting perfections, they are not much inferior to the 

 Oriental favourite in beauty of plumage. 



The ruffed grouse a little exceeds the red grouse of Scot- 

 land in size, being almost eighteen inches in length, is very 

 handsome and upright in form, of a beautiful rich chestnut 

 brown colour, variegated with grey and dark spots, and 

 pencillings on the back, breast, and neck. The tail is grey, 

 with a black bar across it near its termination, and is 

 generally carried open like a fan. On the top of the head 

 there is a slight crest, and down each side of the neck are 

 curious fan-shaped tufts of glossy black velvet-looking 

 feathers. In April these birds pair, but I should imagine, 



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