DUSKY GROUSE. 163 
but never assemble in flocks. Its range is south 
through Oregon and California; how far north of 
Colville I had no means of finding out. 
The Dusky and Franklin’s Grouse are con- 
stant articles of daily food to us, being abundant 
throughout this district. 
Tur Dusky Grouse (Tetrao obscurus, Say— 
figured and described by Sir John Richardson, 
‘F. B. A.’) is found principally on the western side 
of the Rocky Mountains. It arrives at Van- 
couver Island, at Nesqually, and along the banks 
of the Fraser river about the end of March and 
beginning of April. The male bird, on its first 
arrival, sits on the summit of a tall pine-tree, or 
on a rock, announcing his arrival by a kind of 
lovesong—a sort of booming noise repeated at 
short intervals, and so deceptive that I have often 
stood under the tree where the bird was perched, 
and imagined the sound some distance away. It 
is extremely difficult to see this bird when you 
know it is in the tree, so much does it resemble a 
knob or the end of a dead branch. Soon after 
their arrival they pair, but during the whole 
nesting-time the male continues the booming 
noise. The young are a good size in August, 
but never afford much sport, as they pitch in the 
trees immediately after being flushed. 
M2 
