BONASA UMBELLUS. 
KUFFED GROUSE. 
TETRAO IJMBELLUS. Linn., Syst. Nat., vol. i., p. 275 (1766).— G-mel., vol. i., p. 782.— Wils. Am. Ornith., vol. vi. (1812), p. 46, pi. 49. Bon. Obs. 
Wils., 1825, p. 182. — And. Oriiitb. Biog., vol. i., 1831, pp. 211 and 260, pi. 41. — Id. Syn., 1839, p. 202. Id. B. of Am., vol. v., 1842, 
p. 72, pi. 293. 
TETRAO (BONASIA) UMBELLUS. Bonp., Syn. 1828, pp. 126. — Id. Mon. Teti’ao, Am. PMl. Trans., vol. iii., 1830, p. 389. Niitt., Man., vol. i., 
1832, p. 657. 
TETRAO TOGATUS. Linn., vol. i., 1766, p. 275.— Forst., Phil. Trans., lxii., 1772, p. 393. 
TETRAO TTMPANUS. Bart., Trav. in E. Flori., 1791, p. 290. 
BONASA UMBELLUS. Stepli. Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xi., 1824, p. 300.— Bonp., List., 1838.— Id., Compt. Rend., xlv., p. 428.— Baird, B. ot 
N. Am. — G. R. Gray, Oat. B. B. Mus., Pt. Ill, p. 46, 1844. 
BONASIA UMBELLUS. Bonp., Geog. and Comp. List. B., p. 43, No. 282.— Id., Syn. (1828), p. 126. 
This line species, known in different localities by the respective names of Partridge and Pheasant, is one of the handsomest in appeal ance of 
the Grouse family. Graceful in its movements, it walks with a firm, proud step, erecting its head, and opening its tail with a quick, sudden jerk. 
The Ruffed Grouse is widely distributed, as it is found from Maryland northward throughout the eastern part of the United States, and west- 
ward to the Rocky Mountains. It becomes scarcer in Virginia, and does not exist in South Carolina, at least in the maritime districts. The males 
are polygamous, and abandon the females when incubation commences, associating in small parties by themselves until the autumn, when they join 
the hens, and old and young birds remain together until spring. The flight of this species is straight, and very rapid, but not usually protracted 
to any great distance. It rises from the ground with a prodigious whirring of the wings, and after proceeding by quick flajiping until under 
full headway, continues its course by sailing, and generally alights in some thick clump of bushes. 
The most peculiar habit of the Ruffed Grouse is that of drumming, and it is usually practised in the spring, although the strange sound pro- 
duced by this custom may be heard in the summer and fidl, sometimes as late as November. Early in April, the male resorts to some chosen 
log, every morning soon after dawn, and again towards sunset, and is accustomed to strut up and down with head drawn back, tail expanded to 
its fullest extent, and wings lowered and buzzing against the bark. After a few moments passed in this way, he suddenly stops, and stretches out 
his neck, draws the feathers close to the body, lowers his tail, and beats his sides violently with his wings, increasing the rapidity of the stroke 
at every movement. The sound produced by this action is not unlike the rolling of distant thunder, and may be heard a considerable Avay off. 
As soon as the females hear tliis noise they fly directly to the spot, and it is not uncommon for several hens to be gathered around the male at one 
time, admiring his gallant bearing as he thus parades before them. The male, unless disturbed, will resort to the same log throughout the 
season ; and these places are easily recognizable by the quantity of feathers and excrement lying around. 
The nest, composed of leaves and plants, is placed upon the ground, and contains from ten to twelve yellowish eggs, sometimes spotted with 
dull red ; and these frequently become the spoil of some hungry crow, as the female rarely covers them when she leaves her nest. The mother 
evinces the greatest affection towards her young, which follow her as soon as they are hatched, and she tries by every means in her power, feign- 
ing lameness, etc., to draw away the attention of her enemies from the helpless brood in order to cause pursuit to be made after herself. In this 
she is generally successful; and when she has drawn her pursuer to what she may consider a safe distance from her young, she suddenly takes wing, 
and returns by a circuitous flight to the spot from which she was disturbed. 
The Ruffed Grouse feeds upon seeds and berries of all kinds, and also upon the leaves of several species of evergreens. Late in the winter, if 
the snow has been deep, or of long continuance, they eat the leaves of the Kalmia Latifolia, and their flesh becomes very bitter and dis- 
agreeable ; sometimes it is even dangerous to be eaten. Tliey roost in trees, generally choosing the places where the foliage is thickest, taking up 
their positions at a little distance from each other. When suddenly startled by a dog or other animal, they will often take refuge in the nearest 
tree, and stand upright close to the trunk, where they will remain so motionless that it requires a practised eye to discover them. The flesh of 
the Ruffed Grouse is white, delicate, and highly esteemed as an article of food ; and when half grown, these birds are eagerly sought after, for 
unfortunately there is no dish more in demand in August than chicken Partridges j and although in some States the fine is very heavy for killing 
them at this season, yet great numbers are destroyed. 
The usual resort of this species is the craggy hill-side, and the rocky borders of streams, where the foliage is dense, and the bushes very 
closely grown together. In the autumn they will leave the mountains, and go down into the warmer temperature of the swamps to pass 
the winter. These birds have many enemies ; various species of hawks are ahvays ready to pounce upon them ; while foxes, coons, weasels, etc., 
destroy both them and their eggs. 
Mr. George A. Boardman states, that this species is in the habit in winter of sleeping under the snow, and frequently, on account of a crust 
forming during the night, through which they are unable to penetrate, very many are imprisoned and perish from starvation. 
The Ruffed Grouse may be described as follow-s : 
Head and back part of neck, yellowish-red; back, deep chestnut, interspersed with ivhite spots margined Avith black; tail, reddish-yellow, 
barred and mottled Avith black, Avith a broad subterminal band of the latter color; a bar through the eye, yelloAvish- white; throat and lower part 
of breast, broA\uiish-yelloAv. The feathers of the ruff, which are ahvays most conspicuous in the male, are velvet-black, wuth blue reflections ; 
under parts Avhite, with large spots of brOAvnish-red ; under-tail, coverts mottled with the same ; bill, horn-color, black at tip ; lower part of tarsi 
and feet, broAvn. A great difference is observable in specimens, some being of a grayish hue, and with gray tails. This variation, I think, 
does not prove that there are two species, but merely varieties of the typical form ; as it is often the case that the eggs in the same nest AAnll 
produce both styles of coloring. 
The plate represents a male upon his log, AA'ith a hen surrounded by her brood, observing his proud attitude. The figures are all life-size. 
