THE PHEASANT. 191 



feet pale ash; toes pectinated along the sides, the two exterior 

 ones joined at the base as far as the first joint by a membrane; 

 vent yellowish rust-color. The plumage of the female is less beau- 

 tiful, the ruff smaller and more of a brownish color ; the bar of 

 black on the tail is also of a lighter color, and the plumage gene- 

 rally of a lighter shade. 



Many persons confound the ruffed grouse with the prairie-hen ; 

 but this is quite wrong, as there is a striking difference between 

 the two birds, not only in their plumage, but also in their modes 

 of life. The former variety, it is well known to every one at all 

 familiar with its habits, delights in the mountainous districts of 

 our country, and is particularly partial to craggy sides of the hills, 

 and the steep, rocky, and almost inaccessible banks of rivers or 

 small streams ; while, on the other hand, the prairie-grouse feeds 

 entirely upon the open plains and clear countries of the West, and 

 never, except when disturbed by the huntsman, forsakes these 

 situations for the woods. 



THEIR GRADUAL EXTINCTION. 



The ruffed grouse, as well as the pinnated, is fast retiring from 

 before the destructive hand of the whites; for, notwithstanding 

 the broods of the former are so very prolific and their haunts so 

 retired, the demand for them in our cities increases so fast that 

 every encouragement is offered to the ruthless netters and trappers 

 who are ever at work thinning their numbers, in season or out of 

 season, as may best suit their convenience or the pampered palates 

 of their guilty customers. There are, however, considerable num- 

 bers of grouse in some portions of New Jersey, and many more in 

 Pennsylvania and New York ; but every season sends forth a myriad 

 of gunners to shoot them down, while the deep snows of our long 

 winters drive them, half-famished, into the fatal traps and snares 

 that are so thickly scattered over their haunts. We need hardly 

 speak at this particular time of the unsportsmanlike and barbarous 

 custom of shooting game out of season, or offer any comment upon 

 the subject, as we have already said much thereon under another 



