RUFFED GROUSE. 
315 
W Captains Lewis and Clarke in crossing the great 
ran<Te of mountains that divide the waters ot the 
Columhia and Missouri, more than three thousand 
>niles, by their measurement, from the mouth ot the 
latter. Its favourite places of resort are high moun- 
tains, covered with the balsam pine, hemlock, and such 
like evergreens. Unlike the pinnated grouse, it always 
prefers the woods ; is seldom or never found in open 
plains; but loves the pine sheltered declivities of 
mountains near streams of water. This great difterence 
of disposition in two species, whose food seems to be 
nearly tiie same, is very extraordinary. In those open 
plains called the Barrens of Kentucky, the pinnated 
grouse was seen in great numbers, hut none of the 
ruffed- while, in the high groves with which that 
simrular tract of country is interspersed, the latter, or 
pheas.ant, was freipiently met with ; hut not a single 
individual of the former. 
The native haunts of the pheasant heiiig a cold, 
high, mountainous and woody country, it is natural to 
nxpect that, as we descend from thence to the sea 
shores and the low, flat, and warm climate ot the 
Southern States, these birds should become more rare ; 
mid such indeed is the case. In the lower parts of 
Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, they are very seldom 
observed ; but, as we advance inland to the mountains, 
they Birai’n make their appearance. In the lower parts 
of New Jersey, we indeed occasionally meet with them ; 
hut this is owing to the more northerly situation of the 
country ; for even here they are far less numerous than 
^uiong the mountains. . . u 
Dr Turton, and several other English writers, have 
spoken of a long-tailed grouse, said to inhabit the back 
Part.s of Vir-rinia, which can be no other than ttic 
present species, there being, as far as I am acquainted 
f'dy these two, the ruffed and pinnated giouse, found 
Oative within the United States. 
The manners of the phea.sant are solitary ; they are 
Seldom found iu coveys of more than four or hve 
^gether, and more usually in pairs, or singly, they 
