52 THE SPECIES— ITS TAXONOMY, RANGE, BIOLOGY, & ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



able cover remains, it is probable that its present range will remain essentially stable for some 

 time to come. 



Of interest is the inclusion of two states, Nevada and Oklahoma, in which the presence of 

 grouse has hitherto been unrecognized. With respect to the former, although substantiating 

 specimens are not at hand. Rassmussen has recently reported* the scattered occurrence of the 

 species in the White Pine Mountains, the Ruby Mountains and another small area in the 

 northern part of the state. For Oklahoma, no records are available, but the former existence 

 of the bird in the Ouachita Mountains to the western limits of Arkansas clearly indicates that 

 it must have occurred at one time along the eastern margin of the state. 



In compiling the data upon which figures 1 and 2 are based every effort has been exerted 

 to assemble the available material on the subject. In addition, the game departments, as well 

 as other recognized authorities of the 52 states, provinces and territories in which the species 

 at one time or another has been reported were canvassed by letter during the winter of 1941- 

 42. The replies received have been invaluable in supplementing published accounts. Neverthe- 

 less, errors are inevitable where definite records are scarce or lacking and one must rely on 

 judgment. This is particular!) true in northern Canada and much of the Rocky Mountain area. 

 The authors believe, however, that such discrepancies will prove to be minor. 



Beyond this, certain statements which warrant comment are to be found in the literature. 

 In 1831, Audubon"' indicated the occurrence of grouse south of Tennessee along the Missis- 

 sippi, stating "but as you approach the city of Natchez they disappear". This seems to have 

 been the basis for the inclusion of Mississippi in the range of the bird as given by Baird, 

 Brewer and Ridgway". No specific records were given by either author and, since subsequent 

 confirmation is lacking, this section has not been included. At the same time Audubon also 

 ascribed the species to Texas but gave no particulars. Here too there is considerable doubt. 

 The only other reference to its occurrence in this state is a note in Forest and Stream for 

 1878"° concerning its reported presence in the "Brown Sand Hills almost in the center of 

 the Staked Plains west of Cedar Lake". It seems quite probable that this was a case of mis- 

 taken identity since Cooke"^ states definitely that the species did not reach this state. 



On the west coast, sabini was stated by Cooper'" to occur as far south as N. lat. 34° 30', and 

 northward, Macoun'" credited it to the entire coast of British Columbia as well as the Queen 

 Charlotte Islands. Since these records now appear to have been based on misinformation, 

 they are not included. One possible source of error was a specimen of this subspecies col- 

 lected by Bishoff and cited by Nelson""" which was labeled Sitka, Alaska, but which, it has 

 since been determined"*, was undoubtedly taken elsewhere. 



Another aspect of this subject is the sporadic occurrence of lone individuals outside the 

 normal range of the species. In the North, as discussed elsewhere^, there appears to be a 

 considerable area where stragglers may not be unconnnon although observers are so few 

 that data accumulate slowly. Thus Ross™ recorded the species about 1860, at La Pierre 

 House near the mouth of the Peel River in the Mackenzie Delta region where it probably 

 wandered from the valley of the Porcupine. In 1878. Bell'' reported it from York Factory 

 at the mouth of the Nelson River on Hudson Bay. More recently, Clarke'" took a specimen 

 at Fort Reliance at the eastern end of Great Sine Lake where natives regarded it as quite 

 rare. Similarly, Wayne*" cites a record for Camden. South Carolina in 1901. It is possible. 

 too, that Audubon's experience in Mississippi may ha\c inxolved observations of this kind. 



* RaimuMrn. D, I., iifrnonal \ft\CT In the aiilhor*. May 22, 1942. 

 A Srr ilitruftnion undrr Ditlribuliuii and Rrlmive Abundanro. p. 56. 



