RUFFED 6rOUSE {Bonasa umbdlus 

 umbellus). From the sportsman's point of 

 view these grouse are quite generally regarded 

 as the king of American game birds. Of 

 good size, measuring about i6 in. in length, 

 they inhabit wooded districts where a quick 

 eye and cool head are necessary to bring them 

 down, especially since they start with a 

 thunderous rush, that often proves the un- 

 doing of the novice, and speed swiftly away 

 behind the sheltering tree trunks. 



Several races of Ruffed Grouse are recog- 

 nized, but the sportsman need concern him- 

 self with but one, since the chief differences 

 are slight ones in the matter of size and shade 

 of coloration. They are found throughout 

 the northern half of the United States and 

 the southern half of Canada in suitable 

 wooded localities. 



Sometimes a brood may remain together 

 through the winter, but different broods 

 never unite to form a flock as quail do. In 

 spring the males daily resort to favorite logs 

 or rocks and send forth their challenging 

 drumming. This is produced by the bird 

 standing erect, with tail spread and nearly 

 horizontal, and rapidly fanning the wings for- 

 ward in front of the breast, the beating of the 

 air producing a thump, thump, that, increas- 

 ing in velocity, soon assumes the sound of 

 a loud rapid drumming. They also strut 

 about with head thrown back, ruff opened to form a complete coUar and 

 tail elevated over the back and spread to its fullest extent. Their nests 

 arc depressions in the leaves under the shelter iaf logs, stones or tree trunks; 

 the eight to sixteen eggs are buff colored, unmarked. The little chicks fol- 

 low their mother immediately after emerging from the eggs. If disturbed, 

 at a warning call each chick hides among the leaves and the mother runs 

 away, whining and trailing the wings as though badly wounded, in an 

 effort to lead the intruder away from her little flock. This ruse usually 

 works with people and it must almost infallibly pass if they are discovered 

 by foxes or other predatory animals. Birds in unsettled portions of the 

 north are not at all shy, are in fact almost as stupid as Spruce Partridge. 

 Often called "Partridge" in the north and "Pheasant" in the south. 



RUFFED GROUSE 



SO 



