THE RUFFED GROUSE. 
Tetrao Umbellus. 
Tue beautiful bird which is depicted above, is that 
known as the Partridge, in New Jersey, and all the 
States east and north of the Delaware, and as the Pheas- 
ant everywhere to the westward of that fine stream ; and 
by these provincial vulgarisms it is like to be known 
and designated, until sportsmen will take the trouble of 
acquiring a little knowledge of their.own trade, and will 
cease to regard naturalists as mere theorizing bookmen, 
and scientific names and distinctions as supererogatory 
humbug. The distinction between the Grouse and other 
birds of the gallinaceous order, is that the former are 
invariably, the latter never, feathered below the knee. 
This distinction never fails, and is very easily noted ; 
although, in different species of the genus, the extent of 
the feathering differs. In the Ruffed Grouse the soft 
fleecy feathering of the leg is sparse, and descends only 
to the middle of the shank. In the Pinnated Grouse, 
Prairie Hen of the West, and Grouse of Pennsylvania, 
New Jersey, and Rhode Island, the legs are feathered 
