THE RUFFED GROUSE. 



Qj 



HE Ruffed Grouse, which is 

 called Partridge in New Eng- 

 land and Pheasant in the 

 Middle and Southern States, 

 is the true Grouse, while Bob White 

 is the real Partridge. It is unfortu- 

 nate that they continue to be con- 

 founded. The fine picture of his 

 grouseship, however, which we here 

 present should go far to make clear 

 the difference between them. 



The range of the Ruffed Grouse is 

 eastern United States, south to North 

 Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and 

 Arkansas. They hatch in April, the 

 young immediately leaving the nest 

 with the mother. When they hear 

 the mother's warning note the little 

 ones dive under leaves and bushes, 

 while she leads the pursuer off in an 

 opposite direction. Building the nest 

 and sitting upon the eggs constitute 

 the duties of the female, the males 

 during this interesting season keeping 

 separate, not rejoining their mates 

 until the young are hatched, when 

 they begin to roam as a family. 



Like the Turkey, the Ruffed Grouse 

 has a habit of pluming and strutting, 

 and also makes the drumming noise 

 which has caused so much discussion. 

 This noise " is a hollow vibrating 

 sound, beginning softly and increasing 

 as if a small rubber ball were dropped 

 slowly and then rapidly bounced on a 

 drum." While drumming the bird 

 contrives to make himself invisible, 

 and if seen it is difficult to get the 

 slightest clue to the manner in which 

 the sound is produced. And observers 

 say that it beats with its wings on a 

 log, that it raises its wings and strikes 



their edges above its back, that it claps 

 them against its sides like a crowing 

 rooster, and that it beats the air. The 

 writer has seen a grouse drum, appear- 

 ing to strike its wings together over 

 its back. But there is much difference 

 of opinion on the subject, and young 

 observers may settle the question for 

 themselves. When preparing to drum 

 he seems fidgety and nervous and his 

 sides are inflated. Letting his wings 

 droop, he flaps them so fast that they 

 make one continuous humming sound. 

 In this peculiar way he calls his mate, 

 and while he is still drumming, the 

 hen bird may appear, coming slyly 

 from the leaves. 



The nest is on the ground, made by 

 the female of dry leaves and a few 

 feathers plucked from her own breast. 

 In this slight structure she lays ten or 

 twelve cream-colored eggs, specked 

 with brown. 



The eyes of the Grouse are of great 

 depth and softness, with deep expand- 

 ing pupils and golden brown iris. 



Coming suddenly upon a young 

 brood squatted with their mother near 

 a roadside in the woods, an observer 

 first knew* of their presence by the old 

 bird flying directly in his face, and 

 then tumbling about at his feet with 

 frantic signs of distress and lameness. 

 In the meantime the little ones scat- 

 tered in every direction and were not 

 to be found. As soon as the parent 

 was satisfied of their safety, she flew a 

 short distance and he soon heard her 

 clucking call to them to come to her 

 again. It was surprising how quickly 

 they reached her side, seeming to pop 

 up as from holes in the ground. 



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