THE RUFFSa> O ROUSE. 
129 
other, as hoB been already described. This is most 
common in die mortiijjg and evening, though I ha^-e 
beard them dnimtning at all hours of the day. By 
means of thiR, the gunner h led to the place of hia 
retreat ; thougti, to those unaequainted with the 
soiind, there is great deception in the Etupposed dis- 
tance, lit generally appearing to be much nearer than 
it really Is. ' 
The Prince of Mmignano has formed a new genus 
for the rect^ption of this bird, under the title Bona&ia. 
The principal distinctions are the unplumed tarsi, 
contrasted with Tdrao and Lagopus. It Is abore- 
inarkalde for the tufts of feathers springing from each 
aide of the neck, twenty-nine or thirty in nuniher, 
of a deep rii h black* These it can raise at pleaanre, 
and iJiicovpT two hare patches of naked-looking »kin, 
which during tbe flrurnming noise an; distended and 
as it were blown up. The fenglh of the bird is 
about 18 inches, and the whole ptumage is a beaati- 
ful mixture of brown chestnut and jfrcy, relieved hy 
the black tufts upon the nec k, and a broad Imnd of 
the same colour at the extremity of the tail. The 
fomale, according to Audubon, \% genernSly of a 
lighter colour than the male ; the ruff^ though pre- 
sent, being smaller and of a duller black. Tbe nest 
is made hy the side of a prostriite tree or at the foot 
of a tow bush, composed of flried leaves and herba- 
ceous piantfl. Fronv fii^e to twelve eggs are laid, 
wliich are of a uniform dull yellowish colour. 
In America this bird is termed the pheasant, and 
VOL. IV N 
