Plate LX. 



Fig. 6. BOIVASA UMBELLUS-Ruffed Grouse. 



The Ruffed Grouse is a permanent resident of the State, and one of our hardiest birds. It is much 

 less abundant than formerly, but is still plentiful in suitable localities. It builds its nest in April, and 

 by September the young are about grown. When the season and surrounding conditions are favorable, 

 this Grouse not infrequently rears two broods between the first of April and the middle of October. If 

 the first set of eggs is destroyed, as often happens, another nest is soon constructed in a different locality, 

 and the mother-bird is before long again absorbed in the duties of incubation. 



LOCALITY : 



The nest is usually situated about the border of a large woods, in a thicket of dense undergrowth; 

 but occasionally the bird is bolder, and builds in a briar thicket in a pasture, or may even venture into 

 a small wood adjoining a farm-house or road. 



POSITION : 



The nest is built on the ground, or upon a bed of semi-decayed leaves, about the roots of briars and 

 bushes, beside a log, a stump, in a brush-heap, or even under the branches of a fallen tree. 



MATERIALS : 



Little or no art is displayed in building, although great caution and judgment are exercised in selecting 

 the site. This accomplished the female scratches and wallows in the dried leaves and soft loam until a con- 

 cavity is formed from seven to nine inches in diameter. In this, without further work, the eggs maybe 

 deposited, but generally a few soft leaves and grasses are selected and placed in the cavity as a lining. 

 As the young run about as soon as hatched, it is not necessary that much care be given to the construction of 

 their birthplace, but great skill is necessary to conceal it from the many prowling enemies in the woods. 



EGGS: 



The Ruffed Grouse lays from six to fifteen eggs, at the rate of one a day. The shell is cream-color, 

 of various shades, sometimes so dark as to be nearly brownish, and at others almost milk-white. They 

 are often stained in wet weather by leaves upon which they lie, and according to some writers are 

 sometimes blotched and spotted with dark shades of the ground-color. 



In long-diameter they measure from 1.40 to 1.70, and in short-diameter from 1.11 to 1.30. A common 

 size is about 1.58 x 1.12. Five eggs, from as many sets, measure respectively,. 1.11 x 1.48, 1.12 x 1.43, 

 1.15 x 1.55, 1.20 x 1.58, 1.20 x 1.63. Dr. Coues, in "Birds of Colorado Valley," gives the average size of 

 the eggs as 1.20x1.66. Mr. H. D. Minot, in "Land and Game Birds of New England," gives 1.25 x 

 1.65 as the average, and in " Birds of North America," Mr. Brewer gives 1.15 x 1.60. 



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