84 BIRDS OF OHIO. 
is evidently less numerous than a score of years ago. It 
is reported as abundant from a few localities. The prohib- 
itive laws have prevented any great diminution in numbers. 
It seems likely that the modern restrictions thrown around 
the sportsmen will tend to diminish their numbers or at 
least dampen their ardor for the chase, thereby increasing 
the chances of life for the “Quail.” It would be a distinct 
zesthetic loss if the Bob-white should wholly. disappear from 
our fields and woods. Literature is too full of references 
to his prophetic warning or encouragement for us to consent 
to his extinction. 
I find no evidence that Bob-white migrates to any appre- 
ciable extent. It is probably hardly proof that he does not 
because a flock or covey is known to occupy the same re- 
gion the year through, but it looks in that direction. Unfor- 
tunately we have almost no means of knowing for a certain- 
ty the individual birds, and so are unable to follow them all 
the year. It seems likely that there is some small southward 
movement during the colder weather, or with the appear- 
ance of considerable snow. 
Dr. Sylvester D. Judd has proved that Bob-white eats 
very little grain, and that little is probably largely waste 
grain, but he does consume great quantities of weed seeds, 
particularly those of the ragweed. Farmers can coax a flock 
of Bob-whites to their barn-yards by throwing grain out to 
the flock, but it would be a pity to do so for the purpose of 
killing them. 
116. (300.) Bonasa uMBELLUS (Linn.). 182. 
Ruffed Grouse. 
Synonyms: Tetrao umbellus, 
Partridge, Pheasant. 
Kirtland, Preliminary Report, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 67. 
This strictly woods game bird has rapidly decreased in 
numbers in the last decade; partly because it has been so 
‘persistently hunted and partly because its breeding haunts 
have been destroyed in so many places. It is reported as 
still fairly common in the north-eastern third of the state, 
