RFFFED GROUSE. 447 



BONASA UMBELLU8 (L.) Steph. 



Huffed Grroixse; JPartridge ; I*lieasant. 



Tetrao umbellus, Kirtlajsd, Prelim. Rep. Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 67 ; Ohio Geolog. 



Sarv , 1838, 165.— Audubon, Ora. Biog., i, 1831, 211; B. Am., v. 1842, 74.— Read, Proo. 



Phila. Acad. Nat. Soi., vi, 1853, 395. 

 Bonasa umbellus, Whkaton, Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1860, 367, 377 ; Reprint, 1861, 9, 19 ; 

 Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1874, 571 ; Reprint, 1875, 11.— Langdon, 



Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 14 ; Sammer Birds, Jonrn. Gin. Soo. Nat. Hist., iii, 1880, 226, 

 Bonasa umbellus, var. umbellus, Baird, Brbwbr and Ridgwat, iii, 1874, 450. — Langdobt, 



Revised List, Journ. Soo. Nat. His., i, 1879, 181 ; Reprint, 15j 

 Partridge, Kietland, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 1. 



Tetrao umbellus, Linn.eij8, Syst. Nat , i, 1766, 275. 



Bonasa umbellus, Stephens, Shiw's Gen. Zaol . xi, 1824, 300. 



Sexes nearly alike ; variegated reddish- or grayish-brown; the back with numerous 

 oblong, pale, black-edged spots ; neob-tnfts glossy-black ; below, whitish barred with 

 brown ; tail with a broad subterminal black zone, and tipped with gray. Length, 16- 

 18 ; wing, 7-8. 



"Habitat, the typical form, the United States to the high central plains, in wooded 

 districts. Canada and the interior of the fnr countries, to Nulato, Alaska {Doll). Bnt 

 I am informed by Mr. Ridgway that British American — even Canadian — specimens are 

 all more or less referable to var. umhelloides, being grayer than those of the United 

 States), Of var. umbelloides, the Rooky Mountain region. Of var. sabinii, the Pacilio 

 provinces, from the northern border of Csilifornia to Sitka." {Coues.) 



Commoa resident in many localities, rare or absent in others. Breeds. 

 It was formerly much more numerous and widely distributed than now, 

 but has decreased in numbers with the rapid clearing away of tim- 

 bered lands. It is now most abundant, and probably always has been, in 

 the hilly portions of the State, less frequent or almost exterminated in 

 level woodlands. It is not found in prairie regions, its distribution being 

 complementary to that of the last species. 



Very few remain in the immediate vicinity of Columbus, where, fifteen 

 or twenty years since, they were not uncommon in some localities. Mr. 

 Langdon gives no record of its capture in the vicinity of Cincinnati, 

 within this State. In the Hocking Hills and their continuation north- 

 ward, and in the hilly region of Eastern Ohio, they are still common. 

 Ohio birds, present color- characters approaching types of both var. umbellvs 

 and umhelloides. In the same localities, decidedly red and comparatively 

 gray birds are taken. But my observations have not been sufficiently ex- 

 tended to determine whether these differences are dependent on age or sex, 

 though they certainly are not on season. 



To avoid confusion it is neccesary to say to those who know this or the 

 next species by the name of Partridge, that this bird is not a Partridge, 



