206 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



entirely extirpated. The specimen figured in the plate, was one which I had obtained from 

 Long island in 1840, and which was probably the last of his race in that district. It is still 

 found in a few districts of the Atlantic States, in a few of the islands on the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts, and the mountainous regions of Pennsylvania. They are also said to have been 

 seen recently at Schooiey's mountain in New-Jersey, and a few are still said to linger about 

 Orange county in this State. They are so readily killed, that they soon disappear as the 

 country becomes settled. The female builds her nest on the ground, depositing from eight 

 to twelve eggs of a dull brown color, upon which she sets eighteen or nineteen days. The 

 Grouse is easily tamed, and, with a little care, might soon be domesticated. It feeds on 

 buds and berries. Its geographical range is from Texas to Maine, and it is common through 

 the regions west of the Mississippi. 



THE SPRUCE GROUSE. 



Tetrao canadensis, 

 plate lxxvi. fig. 173. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Tetrao canadensis. LinNjEUS, Syst. Nat. Vol. 1, p. 274. Pennant, Arct. Zool. 182 sp. Bonapakte, Ann. Lye. 



N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 127. Id. Am. Orn. Vol. 3, pi. 20. 

 T. id. etfranklini. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, pp. 340, 34S. 

 T. id., Spotted Grouse. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 007. 

 T. id., Spotted or Canada Grouse. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 5, p. 83, pi. 294. 



Characteristics. Subcrested. Darkish, spotted with white. Tail slightly rounded, with 

 the tips brownish red, or a broad terminal band. Throat and breast 

 deep black. Female, duller ; the throat and breast rufous, barred with 

 black. Length, 15 - 0. 



Description. Feet short, and feathered to the toes, which are pectinate : middle toe 

 longest. Third quill longest ; the first very short. The crest formed by a number of rather 

 elongated feathers. 



Color. Above brownish black, barred with blackish ; the membrane above the eyes scarlet. 

 Quills and larger coverts blackish brown. Tail-coverts blackish, sprinkled with black and 

 spotted with white ; feathers of the tail dusky, and with a reddish terminal band. Throat and 

 breast black, irregularly spotted with white. Belly and sides blackish, mottled with rufous 

 and whitish. Female, smaller, with the colors not so bright ; the scarlet membrane over the 

 eyes smaller ; the head, neck and breast reddish, broadly barred with black. There is much 

 variety in the markings, scarcely any two resembling each other. 



Length, 15-0-15-5. 



