GROUSE. 



407 



metallic bars. Back, minutely speckled with black, and 

 streaked with light grayish spots, which are black-edged. 

 Tail, gray, with a broad subterminal black band ; elsewhere 

 paler, or reddish, barred and finely vermiculated with black. 

 Primaries, marked with whitish on the outer webs. Under 

 partSj tawny, becoming white behind. Throat, unmarked, or 



Fig. 20. Ruffed Grouse. 



slightly waved; breast, with dull brown bars, dark-edged 

 above ; sides, with umber bars.* The tail usually has eigh- 

 teen feathers, and is rounded, as in the " Prairie Hen," but 

 is considerably longer. The auriculars (or ear-feathers) are 

 long and loose. 



b. The eggs average 1.65 X 1-25 of an inch, vary from 



• 



* The coloration of the Ruffed ence to the fifteenth line of p. 408, it 



Grouse is variable, the tints varying is to be remarked that the Scotch 



from reddish to grayish. So in the Capercailzie is called the " Wood 



Quail, the chestnut is often restricted. Grouse." [From the appendix (p. 444) 



particularly in the females. In refer- of the fii'st edition.] 



