TETRAONID.E — THE GROUSE — BONASA. 



539 



Genus BONASA, .Stkphexs. 



Bonasa, Stephen's, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XI. 1819. (Type, Tetnw honasia, L., ofEtirope.) 

 Tilrastes, IvEVsEULiNcj and Blasils, Wirbeltliiere Europas, 1840. Ixiv. 



Gex. Cll.\n. Tail wiiU'iiiiiii to tho end, its teathor.s very broail, as long as the wings; 

 the feathers soft, and eighteen in number. Tarsi naked in the lower half; covered with 



B. umhellits. 



two rows of hexagonal scales anteriorl}', as in the Orhjrjince. Sides of toes strongly pec- 

 tinated. Naked space on the side of throat covered by a tuft of broad soft feathers. 

 Portion of culnien between the nasal fossae about one third the total length. Top of head 

 with a soft crest. 



The rufled grou.se — " partridge," or " phea.sant," of the Atlantic State.s — 

 is different, though very much like ours. That of tlie Xorthern liocky 

 ^lountain.s is probably also dift'erent, being very pale gray, with but little 

 brown in its plumage. {B. uinhcJloides, Douglas.) There is also one species 

 at least in Europe. The genus, in its partly naked tarsi, with two rows of 

 scutelhe anteriorly, indicates a close degree of affinity to the American jiar- 

 tridges or quails, as will be seen Ijy a comparison of the generic illustrations 

 of the two forms. Both have the flesh wliite and tender, and are equally 

 sought after as a delicacy. 



