THE RUFFED GROUSE. 



Tetrao Tfmbellus. 



THE beautiful bird which is depicted above, is that 

 known as the Partridge, in New Jersey, and all the 

 States east and north of the Delaware, and as the Pheas- 

 ant everywhere to the westward of that fine stream ; and 

 by these provincial vulgarisms it is like to be known 

 and designated, until sportsmen will take the trouble of 

 acquiring a little knowledge of their own trade, and will 

 cease to regard naturalists as mere theorizing bookmen, 

 and scientific names and distinctions as supererogatory 

 humbug. The distinction between the Grouse and other 

 birds of the gallinaceous order, is that the former are 

 invariably, the latter never, feathered below the knee. 

 This distinction never fails, and is very easily noted ; 

 although, in different species of the genus, the extent of 

 the feathering differs. In the Ruffed Grouse the soft 

 fieecy feathering of the leg is sparse, and descends only 

 to the middle of the shank. In the Pinnated Grouse, 

 Prairie Hen of the West, and Grouse of Pennsylvania, 

 New Jersey, and Rhode Island, the legs are feathered 



