PHASIANIDAE 233 



duced into the West Indie.s and the Old World, though unsuc- 

 cessfully in the latter ; Loiihortyx californicus into Europe, the 

 Sandwich Islands, and New Zealand, in the last two of which it 

 is firmly established. In America, moreover, some species seem to 

 have lately extended tiieir range. Hybrids are occasionally found. 

 Sulj-fam. 5. Tetraoninae. — Bonasan7nbelk(S, the Ruffed Grouse, 

 which inhabits the greater part of North America, is remarkable 

 for the frills of black or chestnut feathers surmounting a bare space 

 on the sides of the neck, and for the partially naked metatarsi. Both 

 sexes are rufous or greyisli above, with buff and black markings, 

 a short blackish crest, and a black subterminal tail-bar ; the under 

 parts being buff, relieved by brown and white. Great variation, 

 however, is shown, and sub-species may be easily differentiated. 

 When undisturbed, the " Pheasant " or " Partridge," as it is vari- 

 ously called by local sportsmen, is tame, and prefers undulating- 

 wooded country in the neighljourhood of cultivation, though it is 

 also found in proximity to the hills. The habits resemble those 

 of the following species, Ijut the food is somewhat more varied, 

 and includes beech-nuts, chestnuts, and acorns. In spring the 

 cock often struts upon some log, and drums after the manner of 

 other American grouse ; but the habit is not confined to that 

 season, nor is the sound produced by inflated neck-sacs, but Ijy 

 the wings. The absence of tlie hens, moreover, suggests that the 

 performance is not amatory. From eight to fourteen or more 

 eggs are laid, of a whitish or liull" colour, with or without round 

 reddish spots. B. s//Ivestris, the Hazel Grouse — the Gelinotte of 

 the French — is a smaller and darker bird, with white markings 

 on the wings, and a l)lack throat surrounded by a white line, 

 which reaches to the forehead. There is no ruff, and the female 

 differs from the male in her whitish throat. It inhabits hill- 

 forests in Europe and Asia up to three thousand feet, extending 

 southward to Northern Spain, North Italy, Transylvania, China, 

 and Japan, but not occurring in Britain. The food consists of 

 shoots and buds of bircli and hazel, seeds, berries, and other fruit, 

 worms, insects, and their larvae. The flight is noisy, but not 

 protracted, the liirds resorting to trees and squatting on the 

 branches. The usual note is a melancholy whistle, follow^ed by 

 a chirping sound. The slight nest contains from six to fifteen 

 yellowish eggs, spotted with a little rufous, which are deposited 

 early in spring, as is connnonly the case in the Family. B. 



