37° 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
The Ruffled Grouse ( Tetras umbellus) is more widely distributed than 
the preceding species, being found in all the Western States, though no longer 
very plentiful. When I first went to Kansas, in 1870, the prairies everywhere 
seemed to be fairly animate with them, and early in the mornings of spring 
so great was the noise created by the drumming of thousands of these birds 
that little else could be heard. In the winter, though, their numbers seemed 
to be even greater, for sometimes a heavy snow would drive them in incredible 
numbers to the shelter of farm houses, and even into dwellings, severe hunger 
making them so bold. As the West became settled up, the grouse , like the 
Indians, were driven westward in constantly diminishing numbers, until now 
coveys are only occasionally to be seen. The result of this barbarous destruc¬ 
tion of a most useful bird, has been a number of grasshopper invasions that 
did inestimable damage by the total destruction of growing crops. Had these 
birds been protected, they would have in turn protected the. farmer against 
the grasshop¬ 
per, since these 
insect pests 
constitute the 
principal food 
of grouse. 
The ruf¬ 
fled grouse 
bears a close 
resemblance to 
the preceding 
species, differ¬ 
ing only in 
having more 
brown in its 
plumage, and 
a ruffle of 
feathers on the 
neck, instead 
of long, wing¬ 
like feathers. 
The Red 
Grouse (Per- 
dix rufa) is confined to the British Isles, where, on account of its feathered 
feet, it is also called the hare-foot. The color of this species is variable, but 
the name red hen has been given it because in the winter the male is well 
clad in a plumage of bright chestnut-brown. 
The Capercaillie, or Wood Grouse ( Tetras urogalius) , is the largest of the 
grouse species, and. is found only in Norway, Sweden, and the extreme northern 
parts of Europe. Unlike its congeners, this bird spends a greater part of its time 
among the trees. It also goes under a variety of names such as cock of the woods , 
mountain cock , capercailzie , etc. Though living among the trees, the capercaillie 
builds its nest upon the ground, and lays from eight to ten eggs. The color of 
the male is a chestnut, flecked with irregular black streaks, and the breast a 
black with a gloss of green. It nearly equals the wild turkey in size. 
