THE RUFFED GROUSE. 
129 
other, as has been already described. This is most 
common in the morning and evening, though I have 
heard them drumming at all hours of the. day. By 
means of this, the gunner is led to the place of his 
retreat ; though, to those unacquainted with the 
sound, there is great deception in the supposed dis- 
tance, it generally appearing to he much nearer than 
it really is.**' 
The Prince of Musignano has formed a*new genus 
for the reception of this bird, under the title Bona da. 
The principal distinctions are the un plumed tarsi, 
contrasted with Tetrao and Lagopus . It is also re- 
markable for the tufts of feathers springing from each 
side of the neck, twenty-nine or thirty in number, 
of a deep rich black. These it can raise at pleasure, 
and uncover two hare patches of nake&dooking skin, 
which during the drumming noise are distended and 
as it were blown up. The length of the bird is 
about IB inches, and the whole plumage h a beauti- 
ful mixture of brown chestnut and grey, relieved by 
the black tufts upon the neck, and a broad band of 
the same colour at the extremity of the tail. The 
female, according to Audubon, is generally of a 
lighter colour than the male j the ruff, though pre- 
sent, being smaller ami of a duller black. The nest 
is made by the side of a prostrate tree or at the foot 
of a low bush, composed of dried leaves and herba- 
ceous plants. From five to twelve eggs are laid, 
which are of a uniform dull yellowish colour. 
In America this bird is termed the pheasant, and 
VOL. IV N 
