The Dusky Grouse {Dendragapus obsmms) 



By Henry W. Henshaw 



Length : 20 to 24 inches. 



Range: Rocky Mountains from northern Utah and northern Colorado to 

 central western New Mexico and central Arizona, and west to East Humboldt 

 Mountains, Nevada. 



Food : Bearberries, raspberries, insects, leaves and buds. 



Plumage, gray, white and black; darkest on the back and tail, which is 

 margined with a light gray. Female smaller, browner and more barred above. 

 Like the Ruffed Grouse, during the mating season the males of this species strut 

 with tail fully spread over the back and head thrown back until it nearly touches 

 the tail. 



Nest: They build their nests under fallen trees or at the base of standing 

 ones. They lay from six to ten eggs of a buff color, spotted and blotched with 

 shades of brown. 



This large and beautiful grouse affords an excellent illustration of the 

 effect of the gun on the disposition and habits of a game bird. An inhabitant 

 of the mountains and too small to be much hunted by the Indians when larger 

 game was so abundant, this grouse in early days exhibited the extreme of tame- 

 ness and indifference. I have many times seen parties of from six to a dozen 

 that scarcely took the trouble to move out of the trail, so entirely unconscious 

 of danger were they and so curious as to the errand of the intruder. Under such 

 circumstances, when alarmed by a gun the flock is apt to betake itself to the 

 nearest trees and sit motionless on the branches, evidently believing themselves 

 to be invisible. The term "fool hen," by which they are known, rather aptly 

 describes their conduct and demeanor on such occasions. Even the "fool hen," 

 however, can profit by experience, and the lesson of caution once learned, it is 

 as shy as it previously was tame. Its flesh is delicious eating and the mountain 

 camper rarely loses an opportunity to feast on it. In spring the loud and sonor- 

 ous hooting of the grouse coming from some giant pine in ravine and cafion, and 

 can be beared for long distances, and has such marked ventriloquial eff'ect that 

 it is difficult to locate the boomer or to tell whether he is far away or close at 

 hand. 



This is the largest grouse in the United States, with one exception — the sage 

 cock. It is much larger than the ruffed grouse, but quite like it in some of its 

 habits and tastes. 



The male is a lazy father. 



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