THE RUFFED GROUSE. 81 



where it is scutellate, spurless; toes scutellate above, pectinated on the sides; 

 claws arched, depressed, obtuse. 



Plumage compact, glossy. Feathers of the head narrow and elongated 

 into a curved tuft. A large space on the neck destitute of feathers, but 

 covered over by an erectile ruff of elongated feathers, of which the upper are 

 silky, shining, and curved forwards at the end, which is very broad and 

 rounded. Wings short, broad, much rounded and curved, the third and 

 fourth quills longest. Tail long, ample, rounded, of eighteen feathers. 



Bill horn-colour, brownish-black towards the tip. Iris hazel. Feet 

 yellowish-grey. Upper part of the head and hind part of the neck bright 

 yellowish-red. Back rich chestnut, marked with oblong white spots, 

 margined with black. Upper wing-coverts similar to the back. Quills 

 brownish-dusky, their outer webs pale reddish, spotted with dusky. Upper 

 tail-coverts banded with black. Tail reddish-yellow, barred and minutely 

 mottled with black, and terminated by a broad band of the latter colour, 

 between two narrow bands of bluish-white, of which one is terminal. A 

 yellowish-white band from the upper mandible to the eye, beyond which it 

 is prolonged. Throat and lower part of the neck light brownish-yellow. 

 Lower ruff feathers of the same colour, barred with reddish-brown, the 

 upper black, with blue reflections. A tuft of light chestnut feathers under 

 the wings. The rest of the under parts yellowish-white, with broad trans- 

 verse spots of brownish-red; the abdomen yellowish-red; and the under 

 tail-coverts mottled with brown. 



Length IS inches, extent of wings 2 feet; bill along the ridge f , along the 

 gap 1^; tarsus l^%, middle toe If. 



Adult Female. 



The plumage of the female is less developed and inferior in beauty. The 

 feathers of the head and ruff are less elongated, the latter of a duller black. 

 The tints of the plumage generally are lighter than in the male. 



A remarkable difference of plumage is observed in specimens from the 

 opposite parts of the continent, those from the eastern districts being 

 invariably much greyer, especially on the tail-feathers, than those procured 

 along the Ohio, or in Virginia. These constant differences have tempted 

 some persons to suppose that we have two nearly allied species, instead of 

 one; but after the closest examination of all their parts, as well as of their 

 habits, I never could find any thing tending to support this supposition. In 

 some instances, the eggs of what I conceive a young female, have proved 

 much smaller than others, and Dr. T. M. Brewer has procured in Massa- 

 chusetts a laying of them minutely spotted with dull reddish-brown, on a 

 ground of a light salmon colour. The eggs usually measure an inch and a 



