London: John J. Audubon, 1828. Hand-colored engraving with aquatint and etching. Engraved by Robert Havell, Jr., and printed and colored by Robert Havell, Sr., after a painting by Audubon. Scattered small discreet repairs along edges, light mat burn along same; very small short closed tear in bottom right corner. 26 1/4 x 39 1/4 in. (667 x 997 mm). Float mounted and in mat and in frame, 37 x 49 1/2 in.. (940 x 1257 mm). Low, pp. 52-53, variant 1

Audubon's fine depiction of a ruffed grouse, plate 41 from his Birds of America (London, 1827-38). "Painting and plate depict two males, top, and a female, below, feeding on the blue-black berries of Moonseed...There are curious variations of color in the ruffs of the male birds in different prints, ranging from black to velvety blue...Possibly painted about 1824 in Pennsylvania. Although not giving any information about the date or place of this painting, Audubon wrote about this bird at great length in Ornithological Biography. He was clearly a great admirer of this distinguished bird, and prized it for both its beauty and its culinary excellence. He mentioned especially that in various parts of the countryside it was called Pheasant and Partridge by the locals." (Low)