The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-13

"a. II. Norton in Maine Sportsman.
We're the question asked our sportsmen,
What il. the Ruf1ed Grouse of Mainea''
probably ninety-tlv per cent would
answer, "Tetrno or Bonnsa umbellus OF
Linnaeus, the common Ruled Grouse. -
Such decision however would not salts
fy the Ornithologist who would reply,
"Bonaaa umbellas togata (Linn), or the
Canadian Stuffed Grouse;" and he
would further ask, docs typical Bonasa
UNI bellus OCCUR in the state of Mainea,
Though these birds had received distinct
vernacular names, and their habits were
we'll known at earlier dates, they were
both first characterized. and as distinct
species, by Linnaus in 1776 in the
twelfthssedition of the Sysema .Naturae.
They are now recognized az, merely, well
marked geographical races of a single
species, of which, by right of priority
umbellus il the type.
This is the bird of the Eastern United
S tates and in New England occurs north
ward, certainly to Massachusetts. 1t IL
distinguished by it's rioh-by comparison
vail throughout its plumage, even Civ
ing brownish cast to the ruffs, and
further by the restriction of the blackish
marks below. The boreal race toaata,
being the bird asoribeu to northern
Maine by the late works on ornithology,
differs from the type in the predominance
OF gray t1nts above, and brOwnish below,
and the heavier markings of the lower
parts, with greenish black rufus.
"a thu a % hi-h To-
apparent even to the hasty observer, but
the intermediate forms require closer at
tention; many Of which will be so per-
fectly intermediate as to be referable to
sither form, exclusive of the other.
1t has been said that in the New Eng
land states north of Massachusetts the
two forms intergrade, and that the ma
Southern Maine, New Hampshire, YER
mont, and Northern New York, are
scarcely referable to either form; (Cf. !;
Bendire Life Hist N. Am. BIDS. also
Shufeldt Science XIII, p. 49,
The writer has improved every oppor-
tunity to examine Grouse taken in Cum
berland county; lis this not in Southern
Mainef) and is of the opinion that near
~ all can be referred to b. u. togata.
ings below were conspicuous; ..the ruffs
also were characteristic of togata. o.
casionally bird with reddish tail and
wash about the fore PARTS has been found
but on closer scrutiny such specimens
have had the tail petty evenly 1mixed in
quantity with red and gray; but SO far
an example with preva lence of raddish
tint remains to be found. From this
vicinity it would seem that puzzling in
teImediates are not in the majority
Though all of the Maine catalogues
with the possible exception of one not
at HANDY mention our Grouse as B, UNI
bellus. the evidence in favor of its claim
is decidedly negative. Yet the writer is
of the opinion that birds possessing the
true character IF umbellus are OCCASION
ally found n the state. This view is
based on glimpses of highly colored
Grouse met in life, and on reports of re-
liable sportsmen who have taken "beau-
tiful red Partridges. 1t is hoped that
thu bird will be added to our fauna. the
coming open season, on an indisputa BILE
claim.
The confusion of these races is an old
one apparently having it's origin in
Button who regarded umbellus as male
and togata female of what he was pleased
TO call LIE Coo de Bruyere q fraise''
(Cook Of the Heather, with the RUM
Latham in 1888 repudiated the union Init
in 1887 retracted his former opinion. and
perpetuated the error to his followers
So the case appears to have rested until
1885 when MIR. Ridgway without com
ment restored togata to nominal rank
as subspeciss of umbellus.