TETRAONIDJ5 — THE GROUSE, ETC. 9 



N. B.; G. A. Boanlmiin): Brown above, and dinpy white beneath; a rufous Udko on the 

 scapulars. Foathors of tho jucrulum. back, scapulars, and winc-covorts with broafl modian 

 streaks of lijiht ochracoou.s. and blat^k spots on tho wobs; jupulum with a stront: buff t,in«o. 

 Seoondarios and winpoovorts stroncly mottled transvorsoiy. Iload dinpy bufT. the upper 

 part more rusty ; u postooular or auricular dusky i.atch. and a tuft of dusky foathors on the 

 vertex. Chick: Above lifiht rufous, beneath rusty white; uniform above and below; a 

 dusky postocular streak inclining downwards across tho auriculars. Bill whitish." Ulist. 

 iV. Am.B.) 



The Rulfod Grou.sc or "riieasmif as it is popularly known, 

 is found througliout the State in wooded districts, becoming 

 more rare southward. It is uncommon in the vicinity 

 oi Mount Carmel, and is gTowino- loss so as the woods become 

 cleared. 



The Ruffed Grouse is a constant resident in the districts 

 where it occurs, and, as a f^eneral rule, is in no sense migratory, 

 though it is stated by Audubon that in some regions where 

 they are very abundant they perform partial sorties at the ap- 

 proach of autumn. These only occur in mountainous regions, in 

 which during the winter months there is an insufficiency of food. 



"The llight of this Grouse is low, straightforward, and rarely 

 protracted more than a few hundred yards at a time. It is 

 somewhat stiff, and performed with frequent, almost continual, 

 beatings of the wings. When it is flushed from the nest, or is 

 suddenly startled from the ground by a dog, it rises with a 

 long whirring sound, which noise, however, is not made when 

 the bird rises of its own accord. Its movements on tho ground 

 are very stately and graceful, except when, it is approached too 

 near, when it runs in a rapid manner, lowers its head and 

 spreads its tail, and either seeks shelter or takes to flight. 

 When it hides in the bushes, it usually squats and remains 

 close." (Bup:wek.) 



On few matters pertaining to our birds has there been greater 

 diffoi-ence of o])inion than as to the manner in which the drum- 

 ming sound of this species is produced. In the American Sj)a/is- 

 Duin for February 21, 1874, the writer gave a general review of 

 what had been published on the subject, supplemented by some 

 original information received from Mr. H. W. Henshaw, which 

 were to the effect that the sound was produced by hard strokes 

 of the wings, both downwai-d and forward, hut without touching 

 the hody of the bird. 



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