560 RUFFED GROUS. 



Missouri as far as the head waters of that stream ; but none have been 

 observed on the Rocky Mountains, or on the plains of the Columbia 

 River. The eggs measure two inches in length, by rather more than 

 one and a half in breadth, and are nearly equally rounded at both ends. 

 All the birds of this family that alight on trees and roots there, have 

 the toes either destitute of feathers or partially naked. On the con- 

 trary, those which keep constantly on the ground, have these parts 

 thickly feathered to the claws, more especially during winter. The 

 latter birds roost standing in an almost erect posture, sometimes singly, 

 sometimes in the manner of Partridges, that is, with their tails together 

 and their heads outward. Those which roost on trees lie down on the 

 branches, and perhaps do not need feathers on their toes, as these parts 

 receive the warmth from their body while they are in this crouching 

 posture, which they can enjoy in continuance, being less liable to be 

 disturbed by quadrupeds than those that repose on the ground, and sleep 

 erect, in order to be ready to fly off when surprised or approached at 

 night. 



RUFFED GROUS. 

 Tetrao umsellus, Linn. 



PLATE XLI. Vol. I. p. 211. 



It is now ascertained that this species extends over the whole breadth 

 of the Continent, it being found from our Atlantic districts to those bor- 

 dering the Pacific Ocean, Dr Townsend having observed it on the 

 Missouri and along the Columbia River, and Mr Drummond having 

 procured specimens in the valleys of the Columbia River. According 

 to Dr Richardson, it reaches northward as far as the 56th parallel, 

 and spends the veinter on the banks of the Saskatchewan, where it is 

 plentiful. It also exists in the Texas. It is more abundant in our 

 western, middle, and eastern districts, than in our southern States. In 

 the maritime portions of South Carolina it does not exist. In Massa- 

 chusetts, Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, it is very plentiful ; 

 but I saw none in Labrador, although I was assured that it occurs 

 there, and did not hear of it in Newfoundland. 



