VARIATION IN BONASA UMBELLUS, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE SPECIES IN CANADA EAST OF THE ROCKIES

A study of 624 specimens of Bonasa umbellus shows that variation in the species in eastern North America consists in a loss of red pigment from south to north. Westward in Canada there is a reduction of black resulting in paleness and greyness. This variation resolves itself into eight subspecies, which can be grouped into two "super-subspecies," based on the potential for redness. The ratio of colour phases and "trimming" of most Canadian races has been worked out. The type locality of B. u. umbelloides has been determined as Belvedere, Alta. The race canescens of Todd is found valid and the evidence is presented by the application of a simple quantitative tone or value scale. Its range extends from James Bay to central and western Ontario, consequently the range of B. u. togata is greatly restricted in Ontario. Minor refinements of the ranges of other races are presented.The incidence of the red phase is higher in females, the percentages of occurrence suggesting that this phase is a sex-linked recessive character. A variation designated as "copper-trimmed" is more prevalent in males and may be controlled by a dominant sex-linked factor.