166 
Vol. XVIII 
A NEW RUFFED GROUSE, FROM THE YUKON VALLEY 
By JOSEPH GRINNELL 
(Contribution from the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology) 
S OON AFTER the establishment of the California Museum of Vertebrate 
Zoology, in 1908, there came into its possession the C. L. Hall collection 
of birds from Alaska and Yukon Territory. Two papers have already 
been based upon these (see Condor, xi, 1909, pp. 202-207, and Condor xii, 
1910, pp. 41-43), but even so, the possibilities of further systematic interest 
were not by any means exhausted. There were contained in the Hall collec- 
tions, among other things of note in this regard, a series of eleven Ruffed 
Grouse from the Yukon Valley, as now listed in the accompanying table of 
measurements. These were from the beginning recognized as differing 
materially from Ruffed Grouse available from other parts of North America. 
But until recently no opportunity has been had of comparison with topotype 
specimens of the already known race umbelloides, under which name Alaskan 
Ruffed Grouse have always been listed in literature. 
The type-locality of Bonasa umbellus umbelloides (Douglas) is probably 
in Alberta, Canada, somewhere on one of the sources of the Peace River, lati- 
tude 54 degrees (A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 140). A few weeks ago I was 
privileged to examine seven skins of the Ruffed Grouse in the U. S. Biological 
Survey collection in Washington, from Edmonton, Alberta, and six in the 
U. S. National Museum from Henry House, Alberta. These may be considered 
near-topotypes of true umbelloides, and they were found to differ en masse 
in certain significant respects from Yukon birds, so that it now becomes feas- 
ible to give the latter a separate name. 
Bonasa umbellus yukonensis, new subspecies. 
Yukon Ruffed Grouse 
Type. — Male adult, no. 4515, Mus. Vert. Zool.; Forty-mile (on Yukon 
River near Alaska boundary), Yukon Territory; November 5, 1899; collected 
by C. L. Hall; orig. no. 127. 
Diagnosis. — Largest and palest of the races of Bonasa umbellus-, nearest 
like B. u. umbelloides, but general coloration of light-colored parts of plumage 
more ashy, and pattern of dark markings finer. 
Geographical Distribution. — As far as now known only the interior of 
Yukon Territory and Alaska. Occurs along the Yukon River valley down 
nearly to its mouth, as also in adjacent wooded areas west even into the 
Seward Peninsula (see Nelson, Rep. Natural History Coll. Alaska, 1887, p. 
131). 
Remarks. — As with the other subspecies of the Ruffed Grouse, yukonensis 
shows two color phases. Three out of the eleven specimens at hand have pale 
rusty tails; but even in this “red” phase the race is distinguishable from the 
corresponding phase in the other subspecies by paler tone of coloration. 
Typical umbelloides is still a gray bird, but its grayness is more leaden, and its 
browns and blacks are deeper. The extreme fineness of the intricate pattern 
of barring and mottling on the plumage is in yukonensis an appreciable char- 
acter. 
