RUFFED GROUSE. 175 



the American Ornithologists' Union Committee has separated from 

 the original Bonasa umbellus three sub-species, some of which had 

 been previously described, but were not generally recognized as 

 differing from the typical form. The three sub-species are thus 

 defined by Mr. Ridgway : 



"300a. Bonasa umbellus togata (Canadian Ruffed Grouse). Darker, with 

 brown markings on lower parts very conspicuous, everywhere exposed, and 

 bordered by very distinct dusky bars; bars on flanks very dark brown or 

 brownish-black ; upper parts, with more or less of gray, often mostly grayisji ; 

 the tail, usually gray (sometimes tinged with ochraceous). HAB. Washington 

 Territory, east to Moose Factory, Nova Scotia, Maine, etc. 



"3006. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides (Gray Buffed Grouse). Upper parts, 

 mostly or entirely grayish; the tail, always gray. HAB. Rocky Mountains 

 and north to Alaska (Yukon Valley), east to Manitoba. 



"300c. Bonasa umbellus sabini (Oregon Ruffed Grouse). Upper parts, dark 

 rusty, with little, if any, admixture of gray ; the tail, usually deep rusty (very 

 rarely grayish). HAB. North-west coast, from northern California to British 

 Columbia. " 



At present we have no large public collection of specimens in 

 Ontario to refer to, and the number of private ones is so small that 

 it is difficult to tell just how these groups are represented among us, 

 or whether the forms are observed to be distinct. 



While in Manitoba, Ernest E. Thompson found both 300a and 

 3006, the identification of which was subsequently confirmed by Mr. 

 Ridgway. We may, therefore, expect to find these two in suitable 

 places along our northern frontier. In Southern Ontario the species 

 varies considerably in plumage, some being grayish-white, others red- 

 dish, and a good many intermediate. A few years ago, some Indians 

 from the Grand River brought to the Hamilton market specimens of 

 a race decidedly red, their tails being fox-colored, but these were 

 seen during one fall only. 



From all I have observed, I think that we have in Ontario indi- 

 viduals of both Bonasa umbellus and Bonasa umbellus togata, that 

 these two intergrade, and produce a mixed race, which is found 

 throughout Southern Ontario, but cannot properly be classed with 

 either of the varieties. 



