RUFFED GROUSE. 
315 
by Captains Lewis and Clarke in crossing* the great 
range of mountains that divide the waters of the 
Columbia and Missouri, more than three thousand 
miles, by their measurement, from the mouth of 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 difference 
of disposition in two species, whose food seems to be 
nearly the same, is very extraordinary. In those open 
plains called the Barrens of Kentucky, the pinnated 
grouse was seen in great numbers, but none of the 
ruffed; while, in the high groves with which that 
singular tract of country is interspersed, the latter, or 
pheasant, was frequently met with ; but not a single 
individual of the former. 
The native haunts of the pheasant being a cold, 
high, mountainous and woody country, it is natural to 
expect that, as we descend from thence to the sea 
shores, and the low, flat, and warm climate of the 
Southern States, these birds should become more rare ; 
and 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 again make their appearance. In the lower parts 
of New Jersey, we indeed occasionally meet with them ; 
but this is owing to the more northerly situation of the 
country ; for even here they are far less numerous than 
among the mountains. 
Dr Turton, and several other English writers, have 
spoken of a long-tailed grouse, said to inhabit the back 
parts of Virginia, which can be no other than the 
present species, there being, as far as I am acquainted, 
only these two, the ruffed and pinnated grouse, found 
native within the United States. 
The manners of the pheasant are solitary ; they are 
seldom found in coveys of more than four or five 
together, and more usually in pairs, or singly. They 
