202 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



The writer can add nothing to this except that more than one 

 form is yet awaiting a name, as between Manitoba and the 

 Pacific, so far as our observation goes, it is extremely hard to say 

 to what form many of the b'rds belong'. 



^ 300a. Canadian Ruffed Grouse. 



Bonasa umbellus togcUa (Linn.) Ridgw. 1885. 



Common on Moose River, James Bay. None observed in Lab- 

 rador in 1896. I think they go very little further north in Labra- 

 dor than the birch and poplar. {Spreadborough.) 



This is an abundant resident in Nova Scotia, New Bruilswick, 

 Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario. It seems to range 

 all through southern Labrador with stragglers well to the north. 

 Westward from Ontario it extends across the whole wooded 

 country, being found in the spruce forest north of the prairie 

 region to the boundaries of the Barren Grounds. The Rocky 

 Mountain district may have this species in considerable numbers, 

 but having no specimens from there its distribution is still uncer- 

 tain. 



East of and including the Coast Range, an abundant resident. 

 (Fannin.) Typical birds of this sub-species as well as B. sabinei 

 occur in equal numbers as well as every intergradation between 

 them in the Lower Eraser valley {Brooks.) Common in the 

 interior ; found about thickets that border running water in 

 British Columbia. The specimens are identical with those from 

 New Brunswick. {Streator.) 



Breeding Notes. — In the sunny weather towards the begin- 

 ning of April if there be a crust on the snow the Ruffed Grouse 

 resort to the hillsides facing the sun and the males strut about 

 with their tails spread out to their fullest extent and their wings 

 trailing on the ground like a turkey cock. If the spring be early 

 the males soon begin to drum and continue drumming from a 

 month to six weeks. In the meantime the females have chosen 

 nesting sites on the ground, usually at the root of a tree but 

 sometimes under a log or beneath a bush. The eggs in a nest 

 vary from nine to thirteen. Upon leaving the nest the female 

 always covers the eggs with dry leaves. In summer the young 

 and old feed upon larvae, insects and berries, and are very fond of 

 clover. In the autumn they feed upon black cherries, haws, 



