DUSKY GROUSE. 609 



NIGHT-HAWK, or PLSK. 



(Caprimulgus virginianus, Bonap. Synops. No. 69. Rich, and 

 Swains. North. Zool. ii. p. 337.) 



This well known bird ranges in summer throughout the 

 fur-countries, and to the remotest Arctic islands. It makes 

 its first appearance at Great Bear Lake about the last day 

 of May. 



BELTED KINGFISHER. (Alcedo alcyon, Linn.) 



This species, the only one in North America, frequents 

 all the large rivers of the fur-countries up to the 67th degree 

 of latitude, but is more common in the interior than near 

 the sea-coast. About the middle of May, when the rivers 

 in the 54th parallel break up, it appears on the banks of the 

 Saskatchewan, and by the middle of June it has penetrated 

 to its utmost northern limits. It departs southward in Sep- 

 tember, and is also resident in the Southern States and in 

 the West Indies. 



DUSKY GROUSE. 



(Tetrao obscurus, Say. Rich, and Swains. North. Zool. ii.p. 344. pi. 

 59. and 60. [male and female]. Nutt. Man. Orn. i. p. 666.) 



This species inhabits the Rocky Mountains from latitude 

 40° to 64<^, and perhaps to a greater extent. According to 

 Mr. Drummond, in the mornings during pairing time, the 

 usual station of the male is on some rocky eminence or 

 large stone, where he sits swelling out the sides of his neck, 

 spreading his tail, and repeating the cry of " coomhe, coom- 

 6c," in a soft, hollow tone. The males, in the breeding 

 season are so pugnacious and fearless, that a man may take 



