THE RUFFED GROUSE 19 



throughout the remaining eastern and south- 

 eastern portions of the United States. 



The Ruffed Grouse is about eighteen inches 

 long, erect, sprightly and graceful in carriage 

 and bearing, a pretty walker and a wonder- 

 fully speedy runner, as anyone may prove to 

 his entire satisfaction when he tries to capture 

 a wounded bird, for when to the aid of its nim- 

 ble feet it brings its half-spread wings, and 

 with its toes barely touching the ground, half 

 flies, half runs, only a good dog can overtake 

 him. 



In color he is a beautiful chestnut brown, 

 marked and penciled with gray and brownish 

 black spots on neck, back, and breast — the col- 

 ors to blend with the shade of dead grass and 

 brown pine needles with the sunlight sifting 

 down through the trees. There is a slight crest 

 on his head, and on each side of the neck are the 

 beautiful, glossy feather tufts from which the 

 species takes its name. The '^ ruffles" are lus- 

 trous purplish-black or bronze-brown^ — are 

 smaller, it is said sometimes even lacking, in 

 the females, and in no case of these that I have 

 noticed have the dark feathers which make them 



