604 AVES— DUSKY GROUSE. 



continued noise, as might have been heard a mile off. When snow comes, 

 they become half domesticated, visit the barns, and farmhouses, and mix 

 with the poultry. Great numbers are then taken in traps. Their nests are 

 built on the ground, formed with little art, and few materials. 



The pinnated grouse is nineteen inches long, and, when in good order, 

 weighs three pounds and a half. There are small wings on each side of the 

 neck, whose upper parts are mottled transversely with black, brown, and 

 white. Over the eye is a semicircular comb of rich orange. The breast 

 ind belly are white, marked with brown. 



THE DUSKY GROUSE* 



In size and color, may be compared with the black grouse of Europe. A 

 specimen was killed by an exploring party under Major Long, in 1820, on a 

 mountain of the chain which divides the Mississippi from the waters which 

 flow toward the Pacific. When the bird flew, it uttered a cackling note, 

 somewhat like that of the domestic fowl. The general color of the plumage 

 in the female is blackish brown ; that of the male is entirely blaek. 



THE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE2 



Was first met with by the lamented Governor Lewis, on the upper waters 

 of tne Missouri. It is said to be the inhabitant of the great plains of the 

 Columbia. The expedition under Major Long brought a specimen, now in 

 the museum at Philadelphia. This bird is never seen in any of the Atlantic 



1 Tetrao obscurus, Say. 2 Tetrao phasianeUxis, Liw. 



