202 



PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



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 

 Scotland in size, being almost eighteen inches in 

 length, is very handsome and upright in form, of a 



SUITED GROUSE. 



beautiful rich chestnut brown colour, variegated with 

 gre} T and dark spots, and pencilling^ 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, from 

 the seasons in the northern portion of the United 



