THE HEATH HEN. <j3 



33. Tympanuchus cupido (Linn^us). 



HEATH HEN. 



Tetrao cvpiclo LlNN^rs, Sj-stema Naturw, ed. 10, i, 1758, IGO. 



lympanuchiis cupido Ridgway, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, viii, 1885, 355. 

 (B 4(54:, part; C 384, part; R 477, part; C 563. part; U 300.) 



Geographical range: Island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. 



The breeding range of the Heath Hen i.s, at present, Hniited to the i.sland 

 of ]\Iartha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where these birds are strictly protected. 



Mr. William Brewster says: "They were formerly found at various points 

 in eastern Massachusetts, southern Connecticut, Long Island, NeAv Jersey, and 

 Pennsylvania; perhaps also southern New England, and the Middle States 

 generally. A woodland species, inhabiting scrubby tracts of oak and pine. 

 * * * The general differences between this bird and its We.stern represent- 

 ative, T. americanus, are difficult of adequate definition, for the reason that they 

 ccmsist largely in shades of color rather than in markings. Its small size, short 

 tarsus, acutely lance-pointed feathers of the neck-tufts, Avhite-tipped scapulars, 

 general reddish coloration above and restricted light markings beneath, are, 

 lioweA^er, readily a]ipreciable and apparently constant characters. * * * 



"The Heath Hen (I use the vernacular name by which it was known to 

 our forefathers) is still common on Martha's Vineyard, where it is mainly, if not 

 exclusively, confined to the woods, haunting oak scrub bv preference and feed- 

 ing largely (^n acorns. Being strictly protected by law, but few are probabh- 

 killed. I am told by one of the Boston marketmen, however, that he lias had 

 as many as twenty from the Vineyard in a single season. He also says that 

 they average nearly a pound less in weight than Western s^^ecimens, and on 

 this account do not sell as readily. 



"The bird is not found on the neighboring island of Naushon, despite 

 statements by i-ecent writers to that effect, nor is there any good evidence 

 that it ever occuiTed there. There is also no reason to believe that the 

 stock on Martha's Vineyard has been vitiated bv the introduction of West- 

 ern birds. It is simply the last remnant of a once more or less wideh- 

 distribvited race, preserved in this limited area partly by accident, paitly 

 by care. According to the best testimony available the colony is in no 

 present danger of extinction."' 



From a more recent article on this species published l)v Mr. Brewster, 

 based on information gathered by him during a visit to ]\Iartha's Vineyard 

 in July, 1890, I extract the following: "Throughout Martha's Vineyard tlie 

 Heath Hen (locally pronounced heth'n, as this Grouse is universallv called) 

 is well known to almost every one. Even in such seaport towns as C'ottagi' 

 City and Edgartown most of the people have at least heard of it, an<l in 



'Auk, Vol. II, 1885, pp. 82-84. 



