73 
THE RUFFED GROUSE. 
Tetrao umbellus, Linn. 
PLATE COXCIII. — Males and Female. 
You are now presented, kind reader, with a species of Grouse, which, m 
my humble opinion, far surpasses as an article of food every other land-bird 
which we have in the United States, except the Wild Turkey, when in good 
condition. You must not be surprised that I thus express an opinion 
contradictory to that of our Eastern epicures, who greatly prefer the flesh of 
the Pinnated Grouse to that of the present species, for I have had abundant 
opportunity of knowing both. Perhaps, after all, the preference may 
depend upon a peculiarity in my own taste ; or I may give the superiority 
to the Ruffed Grouse, because it is as rarely met with in the Southern 
States, where I have chiefly resided, as the Pinnated Grouse is in the 
Middle Districts ; and were the bon-vivants of our eastern cities to be 
occasionally satiated with the latter birds, as I have been, they might 
possibly think their flesh as dry and flavourless as I do. 
The names of Pheasant and Partridge have been given to the present 
species by our forefathers, in the different districts where it is found. To 
the west of the Alleglianies, and on those mountains, the first name is 
generally used. The same appellation is employed in the Middle Districts, 
to the east of the mountains, and until you enter the State of Connecticut ; 
after which that of Partridge prevails. 
The Ruffed Grouse, although a constant resident in the districts which it 
frequents, performs partial sorties at the approach of autumn. These are 
not equal in extent to the peregrinations of the Wild Turkey, our little 
Partridge, or the Pinnated Grouse, but are sufficiently so to become 
observable during the seasons when certain portions of the mountainous 
districts which they inhabit become less abundantly supplied Avitli food 
than others. These partial movings might not be noticed, Avere not the 
birds obliged to fly across rivers of great breadth, as whilst in the mountain 
lands their groups are as numerous as those Avliich attempt these migrations ; 
but on the north-west banks of the Ohio and Susquehanna rivers, no one 
who pays the least attention to the manners and habits of our birds, can fail 
to observe them. The Grouse approach the banks of the Ohio in parties of 
eight or ten, uoav and then of twelve or fifteen, and, on arriving there. 
