FAM. XXXIV. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. 221 



FAMILY XXXIV. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. (TETRA- 

 6NID.E) 



A large family (100 or more species) of game birds of all 

 countries, living almost entirely on the ground, and having 

 mainly brown and gray colors. They have the habit of hiding 

 rather than flying to escape the gnnuers, and, if it were not 

 for the ability of dogs to detect their presence, they would 

 generally escape the fowler's shot. When they fly, their flight 

 is rapid, accompanied by a whirring noise caused by the beating 

 of their small, concave wings. Like the hens of the barnyard 

 they scratch the ground to obtain their food, which consists of 

 worms, insects, seeds, etc. They are generally large birds 

 with short bills, heavy bodies, short, more or less feathered 

 legs, and, in many species, rather long tails. (For European 

 Pheasants, see p. 220.) 



Key to the Species 



* Wing, 10 or more long ; tail stiff and pointed and about as long as the 



wing 11. Sage Grouse. 



* Wing, 8-10 long. (C.) 



* Wing, 6-8 long. (B.) 



* Wing, 4-6 long ; tarsus bare of feathers. (A.) 



A. Tail less than an inch shorter than the wing ; Texas 



2. Scaled Partridge. 



A. Tail about 2 inches shorter than the wing ; common. 1. Bob-white. 



A. Tail nearly 3 inches shorter than the wing ; Texas 



3. Massena Partridge. 



B. Tarsus bare of feathers for half its length 6. Ruffed Grouse. 



B. Tarsus entirely feathered, but the toes bare 5. Canada Grouse. 



B. Tarsus and toes entirely feathered 7. Ptarmigans. 



C. Tail about 2 inches shorter than the wings and square 



4. Dusky Grouse. 



C. Tail, oh-o inches shorter than the wings. (D.) 



D. Tail pointed, wedge-shaped ; tarsus full feathered 



10. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



D. Tail rounded. (E.) 



E. Tarsus full feathered, no bare stripe behind 8. Prairie Hens. 



E. Tarsus scantly feathered, exposing abare stripe behind 



9. Lesser Prairie Hen. 



