SONGLESS BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WUUDLAND. 267 
Ruffed Grouse. Partridge. 
Bonasa umbellus. 
Length, — Sixteen to eighteen inches. 
Adult Male.— Upper parts reddish or yellowish brown, varying to gray; many 
markings; head crested; large ruffs of glossy black feathers on the 
sides of the neck; tail long and broad, varying from reddish-brown to 
gray, mottled and barred with lighter and darker shades; « broad black- 
ish band near the tip; under parts tinged with buff, strongest on throat, 
barred and otherwise marked with darker shades, particularly on breast 
and sides. 
Adult Female. — Similar, but smaller; ruffs also smaller. 
Nest.— Lined with leaves, on ground in woods. 
Eggs. — Buify or yellowish white, sometimes speckled with a darker color. 
This common bird, the “king of American game birds,” 
was abundant in all our woods and was often seen in fields 
and orchards until its numbers were decimated by the gunner 
and the survivors driven to the cover of the pines. The 
characteristic startling roar of its wings, with which it starts 
away when flushed from the ground, and its habit of drum- 
ming on a log, have been often described. The speed with 
which the wings are beaten in drumming makes it impossible 
for the human eye to follow them, and make sure whether 
they strike anything or not. Naturalists, after. long discus- 
sion, had come to believe that the so-called drumming of the 
Ruffed Grouse was caused by the bird beating the air with 
its wings, as described by Mr. William Brewster; but now 
comes Dr. C. F. Hodge, and reopens the controversy by 
exhibiting a series of photographs which seem to show that 
the bird in drumming strikes the contour feathers of the 
body. Strange as it may seem, there are many people who 
often take outings in the country, yet have never heard the 
drumming of this bird. This tattoo is most common in late 
winter and early spring, but may be heard occasionally in 
summer and not uncommonly in fall. While sounded oftenest 
during the day, it may fall on the ear at any hour of the 
night. In making it the bird usually stands very erect on a 
hollow log or stump, with head held high and ruffs erected 
and spread, and, raising its wings, strikes downward and 
forward. The sound produced is a muffled boom or thump. 
It begins with a few slow beats, growing gradually quicker, 
