BUFFED GROUSE. 67 



choice of quarters are totally dissimilar, the former 

 being found among timber or brush, or in its 

 immediate vicinity, while the latter chooses the 

 open grass-covered prairies, perching upon trees 

 only when the winter is very severe and the ground 

 covered with snow, and then making use of such 

 trees as are always to be found standing alone, 

 and sparsely sprinkled along the margin of these 

 immense western savannas. Both these varieties 

 are splendid birds, but the characteristics of the 

 ruffed grouse make him much better adapted for 

 a residence here, and so strongly am I disposed in 

 their favor, that I believe if once introduced they 

 would as soon as known outrival the pheasant in 

 popularity, being much hardier, swifter on the wing, 

 lying better to dogs, disinclined to run before 

 flushing, requiring the quickest and straightest aim 

 to bring them to bag, nor are they much inferior to 

 the oriental favorite in beauty of plumage. 



The ruffed grouse a little exceeds the red grouse 

 in size, being almost eighteen inches in length, is 

 very handsome and upright in form, of a beautiful 

 rich chestnut-brown color, variegated with gray and 

 dark spots, and pencilings on the back, breast, and 

 neck. The tail is gray, with a black bar across it 



