TETRAOXID^E — THE GROUSE. 455 



Mr. J. K. Lord assigns to this species an extended geographical range 

 west of the Eocky Mountains, — from the borders of California, throughout 

 Oregon and Washington Territories, extending high up on the slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains, plentiful in all the timbered lands between the Cascades 

 and the rocky ruts along the banks of the Columbia, over the ridge of the 

 Cascades, and down their western slopes to Frazer's Kiver, in all the islands 

 of the Gulf of Georgia, and e\eryw]iere on Vancouver Island to its extreme 

 northern end, and on the mainland as far north as latitude 53°. The habits 

 of this Grouse are described as singularly erratic, and its food as varied in 

 its character. In the spring their favorite haunt is in the vicinity of stag- 

 nant pools, or in the brush arorrnd a marsh in which the wild swamp-crab, 

 the black birch, and the alder grow. In sucli places they mate, and during 

 the breeding-season are said to be very constant and devoted. During the 

 time of pairing, and at intervals after their young are hatched, the male pro- 

 duces the sound known as drumming. The bird is said to squat on a log or 

 a fallen tree, motionless as though it had no life. Suddenly all the feathers 

 appear as if reversed, tlie tail is erected, the ruif round its neck stands out 

 stiff and rigid, and the wings droop as if broken. These slowly vilirate, and 

 then produce a sound loud and clear, like tlie thrum of a double-bass string. 

 Then the wings move with increased rapidity, and the sound becomes a con- 

 tinuous throbbing lium. It then suddenly ceases, and after a few minutes 

 the same performance is repeated. 



Mr. Lord also states that he has seen the males of this species fighting 

 furiously during the pairing season. Rutfiug up their necks, with their 

 heads and backs almost in a straight line, and with wings dropped, they circle 

 round and round each other, striking and pecking until tlie vampushed gives 

 in, and the victor mounts upon a log and proceeds to drum furiously. 



Their nest is completed about the end of ]May, and is always placed under 

 a log on the ground, or at the foot of a Ijush. It is composed of a quantity 

 of dead leaves, lined with drj"- grasses, bits of moss, and a few feathers. 



Mr. Lord adds that lie found at least ten nests of this bird in one swamp 

 near the Spokane Prairies. From ten to fourteen eggs was about the average 

 number ; they are described as in' color of a dirtj' white, and without any 

 spots or freckles of a darker shade. The chickens at once leave the nest 

 and follow their mother, who calls them with a clucking sound, in the man- 

 uer of a Hen, covers them when resting, and uses all kinds of feints and 

 stratagems to lure an intruder from her young, fluttering along close to his 

 feet as if her wings were entirely disabled, and then, when her chickens have 

 had time to conceal themselves, suddenly darting off. When frightened, this 

 Grouse rises with a loud rattling souiul ; but its natural upward movement 

 is noiseless. 



After the chickens are old enough, the flock removes to open hillsides 

 where grass-seed, berries, and insects are in abundance. This Grouse never 

 packs, but remains in broods. In the fall, before they begin to feed on the 



