OF ORNITHOLOGY 97 



diiference between them is apparently greater than it really is. 

 To make them aub-famUk.^ under one family, seems more in 

 keeping with the general scientific character of the separate 

 individuals in question. As a famihj, however, they are very 

 hard to characterize. The peculiar " plumage," or rather 

 state of plumage, being its most constant character. The 

 feathers are, for the most part, short, broad, elastic, soft, fine, 

 yet remarkably strong and stout — this renders the plu- 

 mage soft, close-fitting, water-proof, barely greasy to the touch, 

 •dove-like, and of a neat, trim appearance not possessed by any 

 others, in the same degree, whether Land or Water Birds. 

 We shall separate the members of this family into two mh- 

 famUies, as follows : 



Sub-family a TETRAONIN^ Grouse 



Tarsus wholly or in part feathei-ed ; feathers extending also 

 into the groove of the nostrils. The Grouse are of a much 

 larger size than the Quail ; here size alone being another con- 

 stant character. 



Gknera, Canace, The Canada Grouse and 4 others. 

 Cenirocercus, The Sage Cock. 

 Pedicecetes, The Sharp-tailed Grouse (2 species). 

 Cupidonia, The Pinnated Grouse and ally. 

 Bonasa, The Ruffed Grouse (3 species). 

 Lagopus, The Ptarmigans (3 species). 



Some of the species of Grouse have interchanged their genera, frequentlj-, 

 especially in former years ; the old genus Teirao stood then for almost any 

 of the species. It is not at present used at all in America, but is confined 

 to its proper European representatives. 



Sub-family b ODONTOPHORIN^ Quail 



Tarsus naked and scutellate ; nostrils uufeathered ; toes 

 also naked ; size compared with the Grouse small. 



Genera, Ortyx, The Common Quail and 2 allies. 



Oreortyx, The California Mountain Quail and ally. 

 Lophortyx, The California Valley Quail and ally. 

 Callipepla, The Scaled Quail. 

 Cyrionyx, The Massena Quail. 



