149 
THE RUFFED GROUSE. 
Tetrao umbellus Linn^us. 
PLATE XIV. 
T etrao umbellus, LinniEJW NorlherriZool . — Ruffed Heath- 
cock, Edwards Bonasia umbellus, Bonaparte Ruffed 
Grouse, Wilson, Audubon. 
This curious and beautiful grouse is found from 
the 56“ parallel to the Gulf of Mexico. It is com- 
mon in Pennsylvania and the United States, and 
very abundant in the Kentucky and Indiana territory, 
and it was found on the banks of the Saskatche- 
wan by the Northern expedition, frequenting the 
horse-paths and cleared spaces about the forts. The 
following account of the manners of this bird, given 
by Alexander Wilson, will be acceptable : — 
“ The manners of the pheasant are solitary; they 
are seldom found in coveys of more than four or five 
together, and more usually in pairs, or singly. They 
leave their sequestered haunts in’ the woods early in 
the morning, and seek the path or road, to pick up 
gravel, and glean among tlie droppings of the horses. 
In travelling among the mountains that bound the 
Susquehanna, I was always able to furnish myself 
with an abundant supply of these birds every morn- 
