94 ZOOLOGY. 



trunk, makes a booming call, w^iich., by a remarkable ventriloquial power, serves rather to 

 mislead than direct the sportsman, and unless experienced in shooting this kind of grouse, he 

 will be likely to spend much time, with nothing to show for it, in a vain search for the bird. 



TETRAO UMBELLUS. 

 Ruffed Grouse. 



This bird we did not see within the limits of California, in the lake basin, nor in that of the 

 Des Chutes river, but in the wooded portions of the Cascade mountains and in the Willamette 

 valley it was very abundant, and was killed in considerable numbers by the different members 

 of our party. 



The only difference which I noticed between the specimens obtained there and those found 

 east of the Mississippi was in color, the Oregon specimens being generally darker. 



The habits of the bird are, apparently, everywhere the same. Their excellence for the table 

 is proverbial ; but from their habit of living in wooded districts they are sometimes with 

 difficulty put up, and are usually shot on the ground — affording less exciting and legitimate 

 sport than species which are only killed on the wing. 



TETRAO PHASIANELLUS. 

 The Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



The sharp-tailed grouse is found associated with the " prairie chicken" (T. cupido) on the 

 prairies bordering the Mississippi and Missouri, and is frequently confounded with that bird by 

 the "pothunters," who annually destroy immense numbers of both species. It is, however, 

 easily distinguishable by its lighter plumage, speckled breast, and smaller size, and is always 

 the least abundant of the two species when they exist together. The range of the sharp-tailed 

 grouse extends much further westward than that of the prairie chicken, the latter species being 

 limited to the valley of the Mississippi, while the former is found as far west and south as the 

 valleys of California. 



Coming north from San Francisco, we first found it on a beautiful prairie near Canoe creek, 

 about fifty miles northeast of Fort Reading ; subsequently, after passing the mountain chain 

 which forms the upper canon of Pit river, we came into a level, grass-covered plain, through 

 which the willow-bordered river flows in a sinuous course like a brook through a meadow. On 

 this plain were great numbers of birds of various kinds, and so many of the sharp-tailed 

 grouse, that, for two or three days, they afforded us fine sport and an abundance of excellent 

 food. We found them again about the Klamath lakes, and in the Des Chutes basin quite 

 down to the Dalles. 



The flesh of this species is much like that of the "prairie hen," and, though not equal to 

 that of the dusky or ruffed grouse, was always regarded as an acceptable addition to our bill 

 of fare. 



The bird lies close, and when flushed flies off, uttering a constantly repeated kuck, kuck, 

 kuck, with a steady flight and considerable swiftness. It is, however, tender and easily killed, 

 No. 4, and even No. 6, shot being, if properly directed, sure to bring them down when within 

 moderate range. The young birds, being fat and heavy, as they fall on the grassy prairie 

 scatter their feathers about as though torn quite in pieces, giving gratifying evidence of their 

 fitness for the table. 



