SONGLfiSS BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 267 



Ruffed Grouse. Partridge. 

 Bonasa umbellus. 



Length. Sixteen to eighteen inches. 



Adult Male. Upper parts reddish or yellowish brown, varying to gray; many 

 markings; head crested; large ruffs of glossy hlack feathers on the 

 sides of the neck; tail long and broad, varying from reddish-brown to 

 gray, mottled and barred with lighter and darker shades ; a broad black- 

 ish band near the tip ; under parts tinged with buff, strongest on throat, 

 barred and otherwise marked with darker shades, particularly on breast 

 and sides. 



Adult Female. Similar-, but smaller; ruffs also smaller. 



Nest. Lined with leaves, on ground in woods. 



Eggs. Buffy or yellowish white, sometimes speckled with a darker color. 



This common bird, the "king of American game birds," 

 was abundant in all our woods and was often seen in fields 

 and orchards until its numbers were decimated by the gunner 

 and the survivors driven to the cover of the pines. The 

 characteristic startling roar of its wings, with which it starts 

 away when flushed from the ground, and its habit of drum- 

 ming on a log, have been often described. The speed with 

 which the wings are beaten in drumming makes it impossible 

 for the human eye to follow them, and make sure whether 

 they strike anything or not. Naturalists, after long discus- 

 sion, had come to believe that the so-called drumming of the 

 Ruffed Grouse was caused by the bird beating the air with 

 its wings, as described by Mr. William Brewster ; but now 

 comes Dr. C. F. Hodge, and reopens the controversy by 

 exhibiting a series of photographs which seem to show that 

 the bird in drumming strikes the contour feathers of the 

 body. Strange as it may seem, there are many people who 

 often take outings in the country, yet have never heard the 

 drumming of this bird. This tattoo is most common in late 

 winter and early spring, but may be heard occasionally in 

 summer and not uncommonly in fall. While sounded oftenest 

 during the day, it may fall on the ear at any hour of the 

 night. In making it the bird usually stands very erect on a 

 hollow log or stump, with head held high and ruffs erected 

 and spread, and, raising its wings, strikes downward and 

 forward. The sound produced is a muffled boom or thump. 

 It begins with a few slow beats, growing gradually quicker, 



