the wide dark sub-terminal band is usually broken at the two central feathers. In addition to these ter- 

 minal bands, the surface of the tail shows eight or nine wavy bands, half an inch wide, of rufous brown 

 with dots, speckles, and dashes margined with black or brown. 



There is so much difference in the size of birds of the same sex and so much irregularity in the 

 shades of color of the Ruffed Grouse, I believe it is impossible to distinguish the sexes by comparative 

 size or by the plumage. Mr. Brewer in "North American Birds" says the female is smaller than the 

 male and the neck tufts less developed but similar in color; while other observers make no difference 

 in the size nor in the development of the tufts, but found the distinguishing marks upon shades of 

 color of raffs and tail zones; the dark shades being males and the light females. It is evident, however, 

 that all these indications will be found unsatisfactory, as birds of different genders may show like dimen- 

 sions and like color of tufts and zones from jet black through several shades of brown to light rufous, 

 and the investigator will be unable to determine by these rules or by comparison which bird is large 

 enough or dark enough for a male, or small enough or in color light enough for a female. I have fre- 

 quently killed birds in the same woods, and no doubt of the same brood, presenting the same weights 

 and dimensions, but of every gradation of shade in tufts and bars from black glossed with metallic hues 

 to light rufous. Once in particular as I find by my notes of 1879. — One bird had large light rufous tufts 

 and light rufous tail-feathers destitute of the terminal bands or zones, while others differed in this respect 

 and with each other through several shades of rufous brown and black irrespective of sex. 



The Huffed Grouse subsists upon grain, seeds, berries, grapes, acorns, beech-nuts, and insects. When hard 

 pressed for food in winter and spring it feeds upon buds and leaves. The slippery or red elm, sassafras, 

 hazel, birch, and apple-tree arc its favorites ; and when a tree or bush is once taxed for daily supplies 

 the foraging will continue until the selection is effectively stripped of its prospective foliage and blossoms. 



The habitation of this bird is readily known by a drumming sound made by the male at nearly 

 every season of the year, but most frequently during spring and summer. How so great a noise can be 

 produced by the exterior of so small an object has called forth much conjecture and contradictory obser- 

 vation. E. J. Maynard in "The Birds of Eastern North America" advances a theory that the drumming 

 is vocal from the fact the laryngeal muscles are constructed in a manner similar to the Pinnated Grouse 

 the tootings of which are vocal, and says: "The wings merely aid in producing it or are beaten down- 

 ward as accessories to the note, just as a rooster crows, flapping its wings at the same time." The logic 

 of all this would appear much better without the illustration; for most certainly it is too generally known 

 that the rooster flaps his wings before he crows, and does not use these appendages as "accessories" to 

 the sound. And it can not be well said that the sounds made by the bird in question are produced 

 just as the rooster crows. Some years since, I had a favorable opportunity to witness the act of 

 drumming and did so with great interest, as so many statements had been made implying contradictions 

 or want of agreement, excepting in one particular, viz.: that a log, stump, or stone is a necessary appliance 

 in the production of the sound. My observations did not however verify even this agreement, for I saw 

 the bird drumming while on the ground time and time again — moving along through the woods — going 

 through his strutting antics and drumming every few minutes wherever he happened to be. A log, 

 stump, or stone may often be selected as an elevation while making the noise, but not always nor neces- 

 sai'ily; for sounds are made quite as well when standing on the ground. The elevated sites may be 

 selected to give a favorable opportunity to see and to be seen; for the bird is not destitute of vanity by 

 any means, and it is highly probable from his poligamous nature that the drumming is a special summons 

 or call to distant females to come and witness a display of attitudes, airs, and splendors which are so attract- 

 ive to the sex, and he may select favorable positions to show off to good advantage. Henry William 

 Herbert who often took notes of these performances, on one occasion saw seven hen birds called around 



a male during the drumming. 



231 



