I i B O N A SA UM B E L L U S .
liUFFEl) GROUSE.
TETK10 UUBELLUS. Li,,,.., Sv.t. X«l, voi. ,.. ,.. 2,5 (Il06).-O,m,., voi. ,., p. 7S2.-W,,.. Api. 0„,lll,., voi. vi. (1S12), p. -IO, 49.-Boi,. 01,..
WO... 1825. ,,. 1S2.-AP,,. 0 .„ili,.Bio.., voi. i., 1831, pp. 211 „„8 260, pi. 41,-1,1. Sj„., 1839, p. 2 0 2 .-H . E, of A,n, voi. v , 1812,
p. 72, p i 293.
TICTRAO (JiONASIA) UMBELLUS. Bonp., Syii. 1828, pp. 126.-1.1. iloii, Tetvao, Am. Pliil. 'IVaa,?., voi. ili., 1830, p. 38 a .-Xu tt„ >ra»„ voi. i.,
1832, p. 657.
TIOTRAO TOGATUS. Limi., voi. i., 1766, p. 275.—Powt, l’Iiil. Trans., i.xii., 1772, p. 393.
TETRAO TYMl’ANUS. Bavt., Trav. iu E. Fiori., 1791, p. 290.
BONASA UMBEtoLUS. Stoph. Sha.v’s Gei). Zool., voi. xi„ 1824, p. 300.—Bonp., List., 1838.~M., Co.npt. Rcnd,, xlv., p. 128.-Baird, 1!. of
X. Ani,—G. K. Gray, Cat. B. B. .Mus„ Pt. I li, p. 46, 1844.
BONASIA UJIBF.LLUS. Bonp., Geog. and Coinp. List. B„ ¡), 43, No. 282,—Id., Syn. (1828), p. 126.
Tins fine species, knoivn in .iillcrent localities by tho respective names of Partridge and Pheasant, is one of the handsomest in appearance of
the Gronse family. Graceful in its movements, it «’alks « ith afirm, proud stop, erecting its head, and opening its tail with a .puck, sudden jeik.
The linrt'cl Grouse is ivi.lcly .listribnte.l, us it is found from Maryland novtli.vard thronghout the eastern part of the United States, and ivest-
ivard to the Kooky Mountains. I t becomes scarcer in Virginia, and docs not exist in So.ith Carolina, at least in the maritime districts. The mal.is
ave poly-amous, and abandon tlic females when inc.ibation commences, associating in small parties by tiiemselvcs until the ant.unn, when they join
tlic hens, and old and yo.mg biv.ls remain together until spring. The flight of this spccios is straight, and very rapid, but not usually protracted
to any groat distance. It rises from tho ground with a prodigious whirring of the wings, and after procce.li.ig by cpiick llaiiping until undo,-
full hca.^«-ay, contiimcs its cou.-sc by sailing, and genci-ally alights in some tliick clum)) of bushes.
The most peculiar habit of tho KufTcd Grouse is that of dmnunhuj, and it is nsnally pi-aotiscd in tlio spring, although the strange sound ,no-
dnccd by this c s tom may be heard in the summer and fall, sometimes as late as November. Early in April, the male resorts to some cho.»cn
log, every morning soon after dawn, and again towar.ls sunset, and is aocustomed to strut up and do.vn witli head dva.vn back, tail c.xi.an.Icd to
its°R,llcst extent, mid wings lowered and buzzing against the bark. After a few moments passed in this way, lie suddenly sto|>s, and stretches out
his neck, draws the fcatliers close to tho body, lowci-s his tail, and beats his sides violently with his « ings, increasing the rapi.lity of tlic stroke
a t every movement. The souiul produced by this, action is not unlike tlio roiling of distant thunder, and may bo hoar,I a considerable « ay oft'.
Vs soon as tho females hear this noise they fly directly to tho spot, and it is not mieoinmon for several hens to be gathered around the male a t one
time, admiring his gallant bearing as he thus parades before them. The male, unless .listurbo.l, will resort to the same log tlirougho.it the
season • ami these places are easily recognizable by tho .piantity of foathors and excrement lying around.
The nest, composed of Ica.-es and plants, is placed upon the gronn.l, and contains from ten to twolvo yollowisl, cgg.s, sometimes spotted with
dull rod; and these frequently hccoiuc the sjioil of some hungry crow, as the female rarely covers them «hen she leaves her nest. Tlic moth..,-
evinces the greatest atTection to«ards her young, which follow her as soon as they arc hatched, and she tries liy every means in her ¡lower, feign-
ing lameness, etc., to draw awaj’ the attention of her enemies fiom the liclplcss brood in order to cause pursuit to be made after liersclf. In tliis
she is gonci-ally successful; and when she has drawn her pursuer to what she may consi.lcrasafc distance from her young, she sii.I.leiily lakes wing,
and rctnnis by a circnitons fliglit to the spot from which she was ilistnrbcd.
Tlic Ruffod Grouse foods upon seo.ls and berries of all kinds, and also ui-on tho loaves' of several .species of evergreens. Late in the winter, if
the snow has been (lec|', or of long coiittmiaiice, they cat the leaves of tho Kidmia Lalifolia, and their flesli becomes vci-y bitter and disagreeable
; sometimes it is even dangerous to be eaten. They roost in trees, generally choosing the places «’here the foliage is thickest, taking iip
their positions a t a little distance from each othci-. When suddenly startled by a clog or other animal, they «'ill often take refuge in the noavost
tree, and stand upriglit close to the trunk, where they will remain so motionlcs-s that it rc.iuires a practised eye to discover them. Tlie flesh of
the Rnfled Grouse is wliitc, delicate, and highly esteemed as an article of food ; and when half grown, these birds arc eagerly .sought after, for
unforlnnatoly there is no dish more in demand in August than chicken Piirtridoes: and altiiongh in some States the flue is very heavy for killing
them a t this season, yet great numbers arc destroyed.
The usual resort of this species is the craggy hill-si.lc, and the rocky borders of streams, where tho foliage is donse, and tlic bushes very
closely gro«-n togolhcv. Tn the antuma they will leave the inouiitaiiis, and go down into the «armcr temperature of the swamps to pass
tlic winter. Tlicsc iiiids have many enemies: various species of haivks are nl.vay.s ready to pounce upon them; wliile foxes, coons, wcasel.s, etc.,
ilcstroy l>oth them and their eggs.
Mr. George A. Boav.lman states, that tliis species is in tho habit in winter of sleeping under tho sno«-, and frc.picntly, on account of a crust,
forming .hiring the night, through «hich tlicy arc nnablc to penetrate, very many arc inipvisonod ami pevisli from starvation.
The Riifl'od Grouse may he clesciibcd as folto'vs:
Head and back part of nock, ycllo«-ish.ro,l; back, deep chestnut, intcr.=pcrscil with white .spots margined with black; tail, rc.ldish-ycllow,
liarrcd ami mottled « ith black, witli a broad sulitei-minal band of the hitter color; a bar through the eye, ycllowish-whltc-. tliroat and lower part
of breast, bro.vnisli.yollo«-. T'hc feathcr.s of the ruli; which are always most eoiispicuons in tlic male, arc velvet-black, witli blue reflections;
iiiulcr parts « hito, « ith Inrgo spots of brownish-rcd; undei-tail, coverts mottled « ith the same; bill, horn-color, black a t tip ; lower part of tai-.-i
and feet, brown. A great difference is observable in speeimcn.s, some being of a grayi.sli hue, and with gray tails. This variation, I think,
does not [irovc that there arc two species, but merely varieties of the typical form; as it is often the case th a t tlie eggs in tlio same iicst will
produce botli styles of coloring.
The plate represents a male upon liis log, with a hen snvronndcd by her brood, observing his prouti attitude. The figures arc all life-sizc.
BOINASA UMBELLUS.