565. 
567. 
209. 
TETRAONIDA; — TETRAONINZL: GROUSE. 585 
B.umbel/la, (Lat. wnbella, an umbel, umbrella; wmbra, shade, shadow; alluding to the neck- 
tufts. Figs. 401, 402.) Rurrep Grovuss. ‘ Parrripce;” New England. ‘ PHEasant ;” 
Middle and Southern States. ¢ 9: Above, variegated reddish- or grayish-brown, the back with 
numerous, oblong, pale, black-edged spots. Below, whitish, barred with brown. Tail brown 
or gray, numerously and narrowly black-barred, with a broad subterminal black zone, and 
tipped with gray. The neck-ruffle of the ¢ mostly glossy black, and very full; of the 9 
smaller and more brown. The colors are endlessly varied as well as blended, and the prevailing 
tone of the brown birds of the East shades insensibly into that of the Western varieties. 
Length 16.00-18.00; extent 23.00; wing 7.00-8.00; tail about the same. A woodland bird, 
like the species of Canace, abundantly distributed over Eastern North America; in the U. S. 
to the central plains; in Brit. Am. to Alaska. It is well known under the above names in 
different sections; but it is neither a ‘‘ partridge” nor a ‘‘ pheasant,” being, in fine, a Ruffed 
Grouse. The ‘‘drumming” sound for which this bird is noted, is not vocal, as some suppose, 
but is produced by rapidly beating the wings. Eggs very characteristic, from creamy white to 
creamy buff, usually immaculate, sometimes minutely dotted or even speckled with brown; they 
resemble partridge eggs also in shape, which approaches the pyriform, broad and blunt at one 
end, pointed at the other; size about 1.66 1.20. 
. B. u. umbelloi‘des. (Lat. umbella, as above defined, and Gr. eidos, eidos, resemblance.) 
Gray Rurrep Grouse. A variety of the last, of very different tone of color in its extreme 
development, but shading into the common Ruffed by insensible degrees in Brit. Am. When 
fully manifested, as follows: Lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts and tail slate-gray, with 
little if any brown tinge; the feathers of the back and rump with light gray cordate or arrow- 
headed spots narrowly bordered with black, the tail-feathers finely vermiculated with black, and 
with a broad subterminal black zone. Ruffle glossy greenish-black. Under parts whitish, more 
or less tinged with tawny-brown, with several broad brown cross-bars on each feather, largest 
and most distinct on the long feathers of the sides, some of which have also white shaft lines ; 
heavy feathers of flanks and vent mostly whitish, unmarked. Feathers of fore-neck and scap- 
ulars blended with gray, rich reddish-brown, ochrey-brown, and white, in indescribable con- 
fusion. Most of the wing-coverts with white shaft-lines. Hen with the ruffle less developed, 
varied with brown and white. General tone more rufous than in the cock. Rocky Mt. region, 
U. S., running into both the other varieties. . : 
B. sabi/nii. (To J. Sabine.) Rep Rurrep Grouse. OrreGon Rurrep Grouse. More 
nearly resembling the common ruffed grouse, but the coloration more heavily brown, — darker 
and richer. More blackish to the brown, and the latter almost chestnut in well-marked cases. 
Pacific coast region, Oregon to Alaska. 
LAGO'PUS. (Gr. Aayorous, lagopous, Lat. lagopus, hare-foot: the densely-feathered feet 
resemble those of rabbits.) Prarmican. Snow Grouse. No peculiar feathers on head or 
neck. Tarsi and toes densely feathered. Tail short, little rounded, normally of 14 broad 
feathers, with long upper coverts, some of which resemble rectrices, the central pair of these 
usually reckoned as rectrices, making 16. A naked red comb over eye. Boreal and alpine 
grouse, shaped nearly as in Canace, remarkable for the seasonal changes of plumage, becoming 
in winter snow-white (excepting the British insular race). There are only five or six species, 
at most, and probably fewer; we certainly have the three here given. 
‘ 
Analysis of Species. 
Tail black at all seasons. ° 
The summer plumage mostly rich chestnut or orange-brown, and black. In winter, no black stripe 
on head, Bill stout . . ‘ ; 8 Satine ae . . albus 568 
The summer plumage wholly brownish-yellow and black, except on wings and tail. In winter a black 
stripeon head. Billslender . «2... 1. 1. ee ee et te te rupestris 669 
Tai) white at all seasons. 
The summer plumage ochrey-brown and black. In winter entirely white. . . . . » leweurus 570 
