TETRAONID.E THE GROUSE, *ETC. 9 



N. B. ; G. A. Boardman) : Brown above, and dingy white beneath; a rufous tinge on the 

 scapulars. Feathers of the jugulum, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts with broad median 

 streaks of light ochraceous, and black spots on the webs ; jugulum with a strong buff tinge. 

 Secondaries and wing coverts strongly mottled transversely. Head dingy buff, the upper 

 part more rusty ; a postocular or auricular dusky patch, and a tuft of dusky feathers on the 

 vertex. Chick: Above light rufous, beneath rusty white; uniform above and below; a 

 dusky postocular streak inclining downwards across the auriculars. Bill whitish." (Hist. 

 A'. Am. B.) 



The Ruffed Grouse or "Pheasant" as it is popularly known, 

 is found throughout the State in wooded districts, becoming 

 more rare southward. It is uncommon in the vicinity 

 of Mount Carmel, and is growing less so as the woods become 

 cleared. 



The Ruffed Grouse is a constant resident in the districts 

 where it occurs, and, as a general rule, is in no sense migratory, 

 though it is stated by Audubon that in some regions where 

 they are very abundant they perform partial sorties at the ap- 

 proach of autumn. These only occur in mountainous regions, in 

 which during the winter months there is an insufficiency of food. 



"The flight of this Grouse is low, straightforward, and rarely 

 protracted more than a few hundred yards at a time. It is 

 somewhat stiff, and performed with frequent, almost continual, 

 beatings of the wings. When it is flushed from the nest, or is 

 suddenly startled from the ground by a dog, it rises with a 

 long whirring sound, which noise, however, is not made when 

 the bird rises of its own accord. Its movements on the ground 

 are very stately and graceful, except when it is approached too 

 near, when it runs in a rapid manner, lowers its head and 

 spreads its tail, and either seeks shelter or takes to flight. 

 When it hides in the bushes, it usually squats and remains 

 close." (BREWER.) 



On few matters pertaining to our birds has there been greater 

 difference of opinion than as to the manner in which the drum- 

 ming sound of this species is produced. In the American Sports- 

 man for February 21. 1874, the writer gave a general review of 

 what had been published on the subject, supplemented by some 

 original information received from Mr. H. W. Henshaw, which 

 were to the effect that the sound was produced by hard strokes 

 of the wings, both downward and forward, but without 

 the body of the bird. 

 2 



