s 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 x 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.

[Illustration 184: 299--300a.]
[Illustration: J. B. Pardoe. NEST AND EGGS OF RUFFED GROUSE.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 183

301. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus lagopus lagopus._

Range.--Arctic regions, in America south nearly to the United States
border, and casually to Maine.

Ptarmigan are Grouse-like birds, feathered to the toe nails; they have
many changes of plumage, in winter being nearly pure white, and in
summer largely reddish brown or grayish, barred with black. In the
breeding plumage they have red comb-like wattles over the eye. In other
seasons, their plumage varies in all degrees between winter and summer.
They nest on the ground in hollows among the leaves, lined with a few
grasses, and sometimes feathers. They lay from six to sixteen eggs which
have a ground color of buff or brownish buff, heavily speckled, blotched
and marbled with blackish brown. Size 1.75 x 1.25.

301a. ALLEN'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus lagopus alleni._

Range.--Newfoundland. A very similar bird to the preceding; eggs
indistinguishable.

302. ROCK PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris rupestris._

Range.--Chiefly in the interior of British America, from the southern
portions to