THE RUFFED GROUSE 19 
throughout the remaining eastern and south- 
eastern portions of the United States. 
The Ruffed Grouse is about eighteen inches 
long, erect, sprightly and graceful in carriage 
and bearing, a pretty walker and a wonder- 
fully speedy runner, as anyone may prove to 
his entire satisfaction when he tries to capture 
a wounded bird, for when to the aid of its nim- 
ble feet it brings its half-spread wings, and 
with its toes barely touching the ground, half 
flies, half runs, only a good dog can overtake 
him, 
In color he is a beautiful chestnut brown, 
marked and penciled with gray and brownish 
black spots on neck, back, and breast—the col- 
ors to blend with the shade of dead grass and 
brown pine needles with the sunlight sifting 
down through the trees. There isa slight crest 
on his head, and on each side of the neck are the 
beautiful, glossy feather tufts from which the 
species takes its name. The ‘‘ruffles’’ are lus- 
trous purplish-black or bronze-brown—are 
smaller, it is said sometimes even lacking, in 
the females, and in no case of these that I have 
noticed have the dark feathers which make them 
