This species is very similar to the Canada Grouse, the most apparent difference being the absence of the brownish gray tip to the tail, and the upper coverts are broadly tipped with white. This species, which is very abundant in the northwest, has the same stupid habits of the eastern bird. During the mating season, the males of both this and the preceding species have the same habit of "drumming" that the Ruffed Grouse has. Their nests are placed on the ground under bushes or fir trees and from eight to fifteen eggs are laid. These are brownish buff in color, spotted and blotched with rich brown. They are very similar to the eggs of the Canada Grouse. Data.--Moberly Peak, Cascade Mts., British Columbia, June 9, 1902. 7 eggs in a slight hollow on the ground. Collector, G. F. Dippie. 300. RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus umbellus._ Range.--Eastern United States from Minnesota to New England; south to Virginia. The Ruffed Grouse is "King of the Game Birds" in the east, where it has been hunted so freely, that it has become very wary and requires a skillful marksman to bring it down. Because of the cutting off of all heavy timber, and the vigor with which they are pursued by hunters, they are becoming very scarce in New England, and within a few years they will probably be practically extinct in that section. Their favorite resorts are heavily timbered woods or low growth birches. Their nests are hollows in the leaves under fallen trees, beside some stump or concealed among the small shoots at the base of a large tree. The bird sits very close, but when she does fly, goes with the familiar rumble and roar which always disconcerts the novice, the wind created by her sudden flight generally causing the leaves to settle in the nest and conceal the eggs. They lay from eight to fifteen eggs, of a brownish buff color, sometimes with a few faint markings of brown, but generally unspotted. Size 1.55 × 1.15. The young of all the Partridges and Grouse are born covered with down and follow their parents soon after leaving the shell. The adults are very skillful in leading enemies away from their young, feigning lameness, broken wings, etc. The nesting habits and eggs of the three sub-species are precisely the same in every respect as those of this bird. [Illustration 182: Brownish buff.] [Illustration: Ruffed Grouse.] [Illustration: Brownish buff.] [Illustration: left hand margin.] Page 181 [Illustration 183: RUFFED GROUSE.] Page 182 300a. CANADA RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus togata._ Range.--Northern United States and southern British Provinces from Maine and Nova Scotia west to Washington and British Columbia. 300b. GRAY RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus umbelloides._ Range.--Rocky Mountain region from Colorado to Alaska. A grayer species than the common. 300c. OREGON RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus sabini._ Range.--Pacific coast from California to British Columbia. A dark species with the prevailing color a reddish tone.