426 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the Dusky Grouse, and is found from the Columbia Paver and Eritish Colum- 

 bia to Alaska. According- to Dr. Sucklev, it i.s nenerally known as the Blue 

 Grouse in Oregon, and is also called tlie Tine Grouse, as well as the 

 Dusky Grouse. He met with it for tlie first time wlien his jjarty had 

 reached tlie main chain of the Eocky ^Mountains, and where they found it 

 exceedingly abundant, as afterwards in the Blue Mountains of Oregon, the 

 Cascade Mountains, and in all the timljered country between the Coast 

 Eange and the Pacific Ocean. About the middle of November these birds 

 are said to entirely disappear, and it is very rare to meet with even a single 

 indi\idunl between tliat period and the 20th of the following ^farch. As to 

 tlieir whereabouts during this period there is a great difl'erence of ojiinion 

 among the settlers. Some maintain that they are migratory and retire to 

 the south. Others are of the opinion that they retire to the tops of the 

 highest evergreen trees, where they pa.ss the cold season in a state of partial 

 torpor among the thickest foliage of the branches. As these birds are known 

 to subsist on the leaves of tlie Conifcrw, and can always obtain sufficient 

 water from the snow and rain-drops to supply their wants. Dr. Suckley was 

 inclined to favor the latter e.xplanation of their absence. He saw one of 

 these birds on the ground during a fall of snow, in January, near the N'is- 

 qually Elver, in Washington Territory, and he was informed that a hunter 

 near Olympia, whose eyesight was remarkably excellent, was able, any 

 day during the winter, to obtain several birds by searching carefully for them 

 among the tree-tops of the tallest and most thickly leaved firs. This requires 

 much better eyesight than most men possess, for these birds are of a sombre 

 hue, crowd very closely to the limb, and sit there immovable. They are 

 therefore very difficult to find among the dense branches. 



The first indication of their presence in spring is the courting call of the 

 male. This is a prolonged sound, resembling the whir of a rattan cane 

 moved rapidly through the air. This is repeated several times with consid- 

 erable rapidity, and then stops for a brief interval. This is said to be pro- 

 duced by the alternate inflation and contraction of sacs, one on each side 

 of the throat, which are usually concealed by the feathers, and are covered 

 by ail orange-colored, thick, corrugated skin. At Fort Steilacoom these birds 

 were very abundant during the spring and early summer, and were mostly 

 confined to the forests of firs. Later in the season, and after liatching, tliey 

 are more generally found on tlie ground in search of berries and seeds. 

 When alarmed, they seek safety among the dense foliage of the trees, seem- 

 ing instinctively tn imderstand tlie advantage of thus hiding. He has known 

 an entire flock of five, conceak^d anicnig the ferns and grass, to be shot one by 

 one, without an attempt being made by a single individual to flj-. This 

 Grouse is said to be a very fine table bird, its pine taste only adding to its 

 game-flavor. Their full weight is from 2f to 3 J pounds. 



Dr. Cooper never met with the nest of eggs of either of the races of the 

 Dusky Grouse, but in June flocks of half-grown young were killed by the 



