78 



THE RED GKOUSE. — C 



OF THE PLAINS. 



THE BE9 OROtrSI 



THE RED GROUSE, OR RED GAME. 



The weight of the male is about nine 

 teen and of the female fifteen ounces. 

 The bill is black; and at ihe base of the 

 lower mandible tbere is on each side a 

 white spot. l*acli eye is arched v.-nh a 

 large, naked, scarlet spot. The throat 

 is red. The plumage of the upper parts 

 of the body is mottled with dusky red 

 and black. The breast and belly are 

 purplish, crossed with small dusky lineat 



COCK OF THE PLAINS. 



This large and beautiful species of Grouse, little inferior to the 

 Turkey in size, and the American counterpart of the Cock of the 

 Woods, was first seen by Lewis and Clarke in the wild recesses 

 ■within the central chains of the Rocky Mountains, from whence they 

 extend in accumulating numbers to the plains of the Columbia, and 

 are common throughout the Oregon Territory, as well as the neigh- 

 boring province of California. 



The (light of this large bird is slow, unsteady, and attended with a 

 whirring sound, the wings being kept in a hurried motion, as in most 

 other Grouse. Tt also runs much on the ground in the manner of the 

 Turkey, and is not very partial to taking wing. Their starting cry, 

 like that of the common Pheasnnt, is a sort of ^kuh, ^kuk, ^kuk. They 

 beo-in to jiair in March and April ; and at this time repair to eminences 

 cm the banks of streams where they are seen assembled about sun-rise. 

 The male lowers his wings, and produces a humming sound as he 

 trails his outspread pinions on the ground; the tail, at the same 

 time, is spread out like a fan, and the bare space on the breast is also 

 accom})auied by a large inflation. lie then struts proudly in the 

 presence of his intended mate, uttering a confused and disagreeable 

 h.urr-kurr-r-r-rhoo'' ending in a deep and hollow tone, like the sound 

 produced by blowing into a cane. They nest on the ground under 

 tlie shelter of low bushes, or near streams among the wild Canary Grass 

 of this region. The nest is made of dry grass and slender twigs. 

 The eggs, from thirteen to seventeen, about the size of those of the 

 domes'tic fowl, are of a wood brown color, with irregular chocolate 

 blotches at the thick end. The period of incubation extends from 

 twenty -one to twenty -two days ; and as in other birds of this active tribe 

 the young run about and quit the nest in few hours after being hatched. 

 In summer and autumn, these large Grouse are seen only in small 

 numbers, pairs or families, but in winter and spring, partially migratory, 

 they are then seen in flocks of several hundreds, roaming about in 



