142 Natural-Historical Collections. 



buds of the pine, the catkins of birch, alder, and hazel, and the fruit of the Fra- 

 garia and Vaccinium. They are very abundant in the sub-alpine regions of the 

 Rocky 3Iountains, in Lat. 52 deg. N., Long. 115 deg. W., and stm more nu- 

 merous in the rocky districts of the Colombia, in Lat. 48 deg. N., Long. 118 

 deg. W. They are rare on the mountains of the of N. W. coast.* 



The third species exhibited was named the smaller Pheasant-tailed Grouse 

 {T. Urophasianellus). The sexes resemble each other closely in colour, but the 

 male is rather larger than the female, and his tail more fully developed. Their 

 prevailing colour is pale brown, richly blotched and barred with black. The 

 wlng-coverts, and the outer webs of the primary wing feathers, are marked with 

 many rounded or oblong spots of a pale colour. Their flight is swift, noiseless, 

 and steady. They are shy, and not easily approached by the sportsman. They 

 are found in the same range of country with the larger species first described, 

 with which they associate, and which they resemble much in their habits. The 

 number of their eggs varies from 12 to 15, in size not much exceeding those of a 

 pigeon, and in colour of a light ash. 



The fourth species has been named, in honour of Mr. Sabine, Tetrao Sabini. The 

 plumage is rich and varied, and presents those singular appendages or shoulder- 

 knots, so conspicuous in the wood-partridge of the United States and Canada ( Te- 

 trao Umbellus.) The colours in the plumage of the female are grayer, and less richly 

 toned — in other respects, the sexes do not much differ. The weight of an individual 

 bird is two pounds. Their voice is a continuation of measured sounds, not unlike 

 the ticking of a large clock. Their flight is rapid, and consists of a quick clapping 

 of the wings, and then of a sudden shooting forwards, without any perceptible mo- 

 tion of the individual parts. They feed on the buds of Pinus, Fragaria, Rubus, 

 Corylus, Alnus, and the berries of Vaccinium. They pair in March, and build 

 upon the ground, in coppices of Corylus, Amelanchier, and Pteris, and on the 

 outskirts of pine forests. Their nests are composed of the slender fronds of Pteris^ 

 dry leaves, and grass. Their eggs are of a dingy white, with red spots, and vary 

 in number from 9 to 11. They are remarkable for attachment to their young. 

 The Tetrao Sabini is a rare bird. During spring, is found in small flocks, 

 rarely exceeding eight or twelve ; at other seasons, it seldom happens that more 

 than three or four are seen together. Like the Tetrao Umbellus, which it re- 

 sembles in the prevailing character of its plumage, it is in the habit of perching 

 upon the stumps of decayed trees, in tlie darkest parts of the forests, and there 

 performing the singular operation called drumming ; which is effected by giving 

 two or three loud distinct claps with its wings, followed by many others, which 

 become quicker and quicker, until the noise appears to die away in the distance, 

 like the sound of a muffled drum. This beautiful species was discovered by 

 Mr. Douglas, in the woody parts of the N. W. coast of America, between the 

 parallels of Lat. 40 deg. and 49 deg. 



The fifth and last species exhibited, is called, in honour of the distinguished 

 commander of the over-land Arctic Expedition, Tetrao Franklinii. Mr. Wil- 

 son has as yet seen only the male. The general plumage is dark and glossy, 

 composed of alternate bars of black and grayish brown. The head, neck, and 

 breast, are almost black ; the tail is entirely black. The upper and under tail- 

 coverts are black, terminated by a large white spot ; and the lateral parts of the 

 abdomen are likewise spotted with white. It runs with great speed over shat- 

 tered rocks and among brushwood, and only uses its wings as a last effort to 

 escape. When raised, its flight is similar to that of the last-mentioned species. 

 Its alarm note is composed of two or three hollow sounds, ending in a disagree- 



* Tetrao Richardsonii, as above described, appears to T)e synonymous with 

 the Tetrao obscurus of Say, recently figured by Liicien Charles Buonaparte in 

 his American Zoology. The latter name, as prior in date, is probably enti- 

 tied to the preference, although we believe that no copy of Buonaparte's work 

 had reached this country at the time Mr. Wilson published the figure of Tetrao 

 Richardsonii in the 8th Number of his Illustrations of Zoology. 



