42 



which had none or few birds reared upon them may be found to be the quarters of 

 several flocks. Some seasons they appear to mostly desert the uplands and seek 

 the river valleys. The past fall attention was called to the scarcity of Bob- whites 

 when the shooting season opened Throughout the uplands few or no birds were 

 found in most localities, although they were abundant but a few weeks before ; the 

 river "bottoms" seemed to have an increased number on them, but doubtless the 

 greater number attempted a southern migration. From the best information lean 

 obtain the low lands bordering the Ohio river were occupied by these birds in 

 great numbers, many of them crossed the river into Kentucky, and many others 

 perished in the attempt to cross the stream. I have been told that when they 

 reached Kentucky they were exhausted and many of them were killed and trap- 

 ped without much effort and without the use of a gun. I have not learned of the 

 occurrence within our limits of the Florida Bob-white ( Colinus virginianus flori- 

 danus (Coues), which may be found in the extreme southern part of the State, 

 since it has been found in southern Illinois ( Nelson, Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. IX, 

 1877, p. 43.) These birds are also termed " Partridges." The advantages of these 

 birds as destroyers of weetl seeds are well known, but they are even more beneficial 

 as destroyers of noxious insects. 



GENUS BONASA STEPHENS. 

 *111. Bonasa urobellus (L'nn.). RUFFED GROUSE; PARTRIDGE; PHEASANT. 



Head of Ruffed Grouse, nat. size. 



Kesident. Breeds. In the more densely wooded districts they are common ; 

 elsewhere they are rare and some places wanting. In the lower Whitewater 

 Valley I think they are as numerous, perhaps more so, than twenty years ago. Mr. 

 Eidgway has called attention (Bull. No. 4, 111. State Laboratory of Nat. Hist, p. 

 191) to the fact that the Ruffed Grouee of southern Illinois have rufous tails, 

 while those of the northern part of the State have gray tails which he suggests is 

 perhaps due to climatic influences. I have never examined these birds from 

 northern Indiana, but throughout the southern part of the State, so far as I have 

 noticed, the birds have rufous tails. 



GKNUS TYMPANUCHUS GLOGER. 

 *112. Tympanuchus americanus (Reich.). PRAIRIE HEN.- 



Resident over the northern and western part of the State. Breeds. For- 

 merly very abundant, but now becoming ecarce in most localities. I have received 

 reports of its occurrence in the following counties: Knox (Balmer), Allen (Stock- 

 bridge), Carroll (Evermann), Clinton (Halleck), Lake (Meyer, Coale), Porter 

 (Trouslot), Starke (Deane), Dekalb, Steuben and Noble (McBride). Mr. Coale 

 reports finding a nest July 4, 1884, at Tolleston with thirteen eggs the usual num- 

 ber is eight to twelve. Known locally as " Pinnated Grouse," " Prairie Chicken " 

 or "Chicken." 



