RUFFED GROUS. 361 



A remarkable difference of plumage is observed in specimens from 

 the opposite parts of the Continent, those from the eastern districts 

 being invariably much greyer, especially on the tail-feathers, than those 

 procured along the Ohio, or in Virginia. These constant differences 

 have tempted some persons to suppose that we have two nearly allied 

 species, instead of one ; but after the closest examination of all their 

 parts, as well as of their habits, I never could find anything tending to 

 support this supposition. In some instances, the eggs of what I con- 

 ceive a young female, have proved much smaller than others, and Dr T. 

 M. Brewer has prociu'ed in Massachusetts a laying of them minutely 

 spotted with dull reddish-brown, on a ground of a light salmon colour. 

 The eggs usually measure an inch and a half in length, by an inch and 

 two-twelfths in breadth, and are of a uniform dull yellowish tint. 



In this species the palate is flat, with two longitudinal ridges con- 

 verging anteriorly ; the space between these ridges and the slit covered 

 with small papillae. The tongue is triangular, flattened, sagittate and 

 papillate at the base, 9 twelfths long, fleshy and pointed. The width 

 of the mouth is 8 twelfths. The liver is extremely small, its lobes equal, 

 and 1 inch in length. The heart is also small, 11 twelfths long, 7 twelfths 

 in breadth. The oesophagus, a bf, is 1^ inches in length ; for three 

 inches, a h, it has a width of only 5 twelfths ; it then enlarges to form 

 a vast crop, bed, 3^ inches in breadth, and 2| inches in length, that 

 part of it connected with w'hich is 1 inch 5 twelfths in length ; it then 

 contracts to \ inch, e; the proventriculus, ef, 7^ twelfths in breadth. 

 The stomach, cd, isa, very powerful muscular gizzard, 1 inch 8 twelfths 

 long, 1 inch 9 twelfths broad ; the inferior muscle very large, 1 twelfth 

 thick ; thfe lateral muscles extremely developed, the left 6 twelfths, 

 the right 5 twelfths in thickness ; the epithelium thick, tough, yel- 

 lowish-brown, with two concave surfaces, which are deeply grooved 

 longitudinally. The proventricular glands are large, 3 twelfths long, 

 occupying a space of only 7 twelfths of an inch in breadth. The 

 duodenum, h i, curves at the distance of 4 inches. The intestine, 

 h ij k, is 4 feet 1 inch long ; the coeca come off at the distance of 6 j 

 inches from the extremity ; one of them 17^, the other 16^ inches 

 long ; their width for three inches 4 twelfths, in the rest of their ex- 

 tent 6 twelfths ; they are narrowed toward the end, and terminate in a 

 blunt nipple-like point ; their inner siu-face has 7 longitudmal ridges, 

 and they are filled with a pultaceous mass. The width of the duo- 

 voL. v. jj n 



