ZOOLOGY. 221 



By Aiigust 1 the young arc generally half grown. They are then easily killed on the wing, 

 and are excellent for the table. 



George Gibbs, esq., in a letter to me, says: "The apparatus with which the blue grouse 

 produces the singular hooting, with which the male solaces his lonely hours, is worthy of 

 dissection and study. I have seen this bird as far south as the Russian River mountains, in 

 California. It is common on the east side of the Cascades, as far north as the 49th parallel." — S. 



TETRAO FRANKLINIL Douglas. 



franklin's Gronee j Tjee Grouse. 



Telrao franklinii, DouGWS, Trans. Lian. Soc. XVI, 1829, 139>— Rich. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 348; pi. 1x1.— Baird, 



Gen. Eep. Birds, p. 623. 

 Tferao canadensis, var. Bonap. Am. Orn. HI, 1830, 47 ; pi. xx. 



f Tdrao fiisca, Ord, Guthrie's Geog. 2d Am. ed. II, 1S15, 317. Based on small brown pbeasanl of Lewis & Clark, 

 II, 182, which very probably is this species. 



Sp. Ch. — Tail of sixteen feathers. Feathers above distinctly banded with plumbeous ; beneath uniform black, with a, 

 pectoral band of white. Chin and throat above black, the tail feathers entirely black, without orange brown terminal band ; 

 the upper tail coverts broadly tipped with white. Wing, 7.35 ; tail, 5.62. 



Sab. — Northern Rocky mountains, and west. 



Abundant in the Rocky and Bitter Root mountains, also found in the Cascade mountains, 

 Washington Territory, near the Yakima Passes. This bird, by the Indians, has the jargon 

 name, "Tyee Kulla Kulla" or the "chief bird," or perhaps more correctly the gentleman bird, 



Washington 'i crritory contains five of the species of Tetrao or true grouse known to exist in 

 North America, the only species not found within its limits being the 'Tetrao cupido or pinnated 

 grouse, the Bonasa umheUus, and, if distinct, the Tetrao canadensis. Of the five native species 

 there is not one but can be said to be plentiful in some portion of the Territory. In the 

 interior arid regions the species urophasianus and pliasianellus abound, the first being only found 

 in that region, the others extend into the Rocky mountain valleys. In the extreme east T, 

 franldinii, T. obscuriis, and Bonasa sabinii are plentiful, whereas in the extreme west but the 

 two last mentioned. In the western section, owing to the abundance of food, thick covers, and 

 absence of foxes, it is probable that both species will always remain numerous. 



As may be inferred from this notice of their limits, all the five species of grouse may be 

 found within a few miles of Fort Dalles, on the Columbia, besides, perhaps, a Ptarmiigan near 

 the limits of perpetual snow on the sides of Mount Hood. 



The specimens of Tetrao franklinii, sent by me to the Smithsonian, were obtained by Lieutenant 

 John Mullan, United States army, at the St. Mary's valley, in the Rocky mountains. Lieutenant 

 Mullan stated to me that they were quite an abundant bird in that region, and very readily 

 killed, as they are tame and unsuspicious. The skins were thrown in alcohol, but, unfortunately, 

 in drying became much damaged. — S. 



<- Mr. George Gibbs, in a letter to me, speaks as follows of a grouse shot by him, which probably belonged to this species ; 



"1 should mention that in November, 1849, I shot a bird on the Willamette valley much resembling the hen of the 

 ruffed grouse, but not more, at most, than two thirds the size. 1 could not identify it by any description in Nuttall's 

 Manual, and had no means of preserving the skin. It seemed in adult plumage ; had no ruff. I did not ascertain the sex, 

 but suppose it to be a female ; I have never since met with a similar bird." 



Again he says : " Mr. Bolon (an old resident in the Territory) says that there is a grouse on the tops of the Cascade moun- 

 tains, near Rainier, less than the ruffed grouse, but the same color ; has no ruff. It is a shorter bird than the sharp-tailed, 

 but stout in proportion. The eyelids and wattles on the neck, bright red, where in the blue grouse they are yellow. Abundant 

 and very tame. The Indians call them the ti/ee grouse." 



