58 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OP MICHIGAN. 



Genus BONASA Steph. 



Raffed Grouse, natural size. 



134-3G0-(565). Bonasa uinlx-Uns {Linn.). *Ruffed Grouse; " Paktridge," in 

 Michigan; " Pheasant," south. 

 Very common, though decreasing in number; throughout the entire state; "still 

 abundant about Ann Arbor" (Dr. J. B. Steere); "common at Au Sable" (N. A. Eddy); 

 "common at Iron Mountain " (E.E.Brewster); "very common at Keweenaw Point " 

 (Kneeland); breeds; nests in June, on the ground, nests said to be often concealed by 

 logs, etc.; " I never find them so " (Prof. Ludwig Kumlein); " always covers eggs 

 with leaves before leaving the nest" (J. B. Purdy); I have always found the nests of 

 eggs entirely exposed; eggs six to fifteen, usually ten to twelve, creamy white to buff, 

 occasionally spotted with fine reddish dots; seen through the year; excellent game bird; 

 occasionally fly into houses in autumn through windows. This bird is known by the 

 drumming of the male with its wings, which may be heard for a long distance. This 

 bird eats berries, nuts, especially beech nuts, and insects. In the autumn it eats many 

 grasshoppers and such caterpillars as the oak caterpillar. Edema albifrons. My son, 

 A. B. Cook, thinks that they never cover their eggs, except as they accidentally sweep 

 the leaves over the eggs, as they take wing. The drumming, for which this bird is 

 noted, is probably caused by the wings striking the air. 



Genus LAGOPUS Bkiss. 



1 3*j-301-(5t>8). Lag-opus lag'opns {Linn.). Willow Ptarmigan. , 



Reported from Upper Peninsula (See Gibbs' list of Michigan Birds); "habitat 

 Minnesota" (Birds of Minnesota, Hatch, 1892, p. 162); "Keweenaw Point" (Kneeland); 

 " south to northern New York" (Jordan); pure white in winter. 



Genus TYMPANDCHDS Gloger. 



13G-305-(563). Tvmpaiiiicliiis ameriranus {Reich.). *Prairie Hen; Prairie 

 Chicken; Pinnated Grouse. 

 Quite common; formerly very rare here, but common in the southwestern part of the 

 State; "formerly abundant, but now extinct at Ann Arbor "(Dr. J. B. Steere); "extinct 

 in Monroe county for more than thirty years" (Jerome Trombley); "very common in 

 Southwestern Michigan" (Prof. J. W. Simmons); more frequent in prairie region; seen 

 through the year; breeds; nests in June, on the ground; nest said to be often con- 

 cealed by leaves, etc.; eggs eight to fourteen, gray, often specked with brown; destroys 

 many insects; excellent game bird; Dr. Atkins found a nest in June, 1879; he reports 

 them very common at Locke in January, 1878; embraced in Sager's list of 1839; " should 

 be carefully protected, as it is a valuable friend to the farmer" (Dr. A. K. Fisher). 



