THE RUFFED GROUSE. 
81 
where it is scutellate, spurless ; toes scutellate above, pectinated on the 
sides ; claws arched, depressed, obtuse. 
Plumage compact, glossy. Feathers of the head narrow and elongated 
into a curved tuft. A large space on the neck destitute of feathers, but 
covered over by an erectile ruff of elongated feathers, of which the upper 
are silky, shining, and curved forwards at the end, which is very broad 
and rounded. Wings short, broad, much rounded and curved, the third 
and fourth quills longest. Tail long, ample, rounded, of eighteen feathers. 
Bill horn-colour, brownish-black towards the tip. Iris hazel. Feet 
yellowish-grey. Upper part of the head and hind part of the neck bright 
yellowish-red. Back rich chestnut, marked with oblong white spots, 
margined with black. Upper wing-coverts similar to the back. Quills 
brownish-dusky, their outer webs pale reddish, spotted with dusky. Upper 
tail-coverts banded with black. Tail reddish-yellow, barred and miyutelv 
mottled with black, and terminated by a broad band of the latter colour, 
betweeir two narrow bands of bluish-white, of which one is terminal. A 
yellowish-white band from the upper mandible to the eye, beyond which it 
is prolonged. Throat and lower part of the neck light brownish yellow. 
Lower ruff feathers of the same colour, barred with reddish-brown, the 
upper black, with blue reflections. A tuft of light chestnut feathers under 
the wings. The rest of the under parts yellowish-white, with broad trans- 
verse spots of brownish-red ; the abdomen yellowish-red ; and the under 
tail-coverts mottled w r ith brown. 
Length 18 inches, extent of wings 2 feet ; bill along the ridge 3, along 
the gap 1 T V ; tarsus 1 T \, middle toe If. 
Adult Female. 
The plumage of the female is less developed and inferior in beauty. The 
feathers of the head and ruff are less elongated, the latter of a duller black. 
The tints of the plumage generally are lighter than in the male. 
A remarkable difference of plumage is observed in specimens from the 
opposite parts of the continent, those from the eastern districts being 
invariably much greyer, especially on the tail-feathers, than those procured 
along the Ohio, or in Virginia. These constant differences have tempted 
.some persons to suppose that we have two nearly allied species, instead of 
one ; but after the closest examination of all their parts, as well as of their 
habits, I never could find anything tending to support this supposition. In 
some instances, the eggs of what I conceive a young female, have proved 
much smaller than others, and Dr. T. M. Brewer has procured in Massa- 
chusetts a laying of them minutely spotted with dull reddish-brown, on a 
ground of a light salmon colour. The eggs usually measure an inch and a 
