80 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



seven inches. Upper legs only feathered; naked behind. 

 Lower legs with two rows of hexagonal scales behind. 

 Weight, 21 to 26 ounces; length, 17f to 20 inches; stretch 

 of wings, 22| to 25. Habitat, east of Rocky Mountains. 



ADULT FEMALE. 



Similar to male, but smaller. Ruff lacks metallic 

 lustre, and varies in color from liver-color to dead black. 

 Lacks the trace of orange above the eye. Length, 15 to 

 17f inches; stretch of wings, 20-| to 2()|; weight, 18 to 

 22 ounces. VARIETY UMBELLOIDES. 



Marked similar to umbellus, but general color bluish- 

 ash; tail, pale ash. Found in the Rocky Mountains and 

 South Central British America. 



VARIETY SABINI. 



Similar to urribellus, but much darker generally. 

 Grayish specimens occur occasionally at high altitudes. 

 Found in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. 



Although a description of the ruffed grouse may seem 

 to many unnecessary, in view of the scarcity of birds in 

 certain populous districts, and the increasing interest 

 taken in natural history by the young men of the day, 

 the writer has thought best to follow the mode of prede- 

 cessors, avoiding, however, the use of scientific terms. 



As the sexes are so nearly alike, only the male bird 

 has been minutely described, but a little space further on 

 will be devoted to pointing out the few external differ- 

 ences, in order that sportsmen, with opportunities for 

 observing the habits of this beautiful bird, may assist in 

 clearing away the mists which envelop and leave in 

 doubt some of its characteristics. 



With the exception of the forests bordering on the 

 Gulf of Mexico, this species may be found in consider- 

 able numbers in nearly all the wooded sections of the 

 United States and Southern British America. 



