454 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The eggs of this variety measure 1.62 inches in length by 1.20 in breadth. 

 Their ground-color is a deep uniform cream, darker than in the umbellus. 

 They are occasionally marked with dark tints of the same. 



Bonasa umbellus, var. sabini, Douglas. 



THE OREGON GROUSE. 



Tetrao sabini, Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 1829, 137. — Rich. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 

 343. ? Tetrao umbellus, Rich. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 342. — Newberry, Zool. CaL 

 & Or. Route, Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857, 94. Bonasa sabini, Baird, Birds 

 N. Am. 1858, 631. —Cooper & Scjckley, 224. —Elliot, P. A. N. S. 1864. — Ib. 

 Monog. Tetraon. — Loud, Pr. R. A. I. IV, 123 (Br. CoL). — Gray, Cat. Brit. 

 Mus. V, 1867, 89. — Dall & Bannister, Tr. Chicago Ac. I, 1869, 287 (Alaska coast). 

 — Cooper, Orn. CaL I, 1870, 540. 



Sp. Char. Similar to var. umbellus, but much darker. The rufous tints almost 

 castaneous, and the dusky markings larger. Length, about 18.00; wing, 7.30; tail, 6.70. 

 Hab. Coast Mountains of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. 



The specimens of Euffed Grouse from the Pacific coast differ very greatly 

 from others in much darker tints of coloration, although the pattern is 

 precisely the same. The upper parts are dark orange-chestnut, mottled with 

 black, the cordate light spots very distinct. The feathers of the breast are 

 strongly tinged with reddish-yellow ; those of the sides marked with broad 

 and conspicuous bars of black, instead of the obsolete brown. The under 

 tail-coverts are orange-chestnut, with indistinct bars of black, and an angular 

 terminal blotch of white. All the light brown blotches and edgings of the 

 eastern variety are here dark brown or black. The jugular band between 

 the ruffles is very conspicuously black. Specimens from Eastern Oregon and 

 Washington have dark gray tails, and thus incline toward var. vmbelloides. 



Habits. The Western Euffed Grouse was found abundant by Dr. Suck- 

 ley in the timbered districts throughout Oregon and Washington Territory. 

 Its habits seemed to be identical with those of the eastern birds. Owing 

 to the mildness of the season in the vicinity of Fort Steilacoom, the males 

 commence drumming as early as January, and in February they are heard 

 to drum throughout the night. In the autumn tliey collect in great num- 

 bers in the crab-apple thickets near the salt marshes at the mouths of the 

 rivers emptying into Puget Sound. There they feed for about six weeks 

 on the ripe fruit of the northwestern crab-apple, the Pyrus rivularis of 

 Nuttall. 



Dr. Cooper also speaks of this Grouse as very abundant everywhere about 

 the borders of woods and clearings. It was common near the forests east of 

 the Cascade Mountains up to the 49th degree. These birds vary in plu- 

 mage there, a pale-grayish hue predominating. West of the mountains they 

 are all of a very dark brown. There was, however, no perceptible difference 

 in their habits or cries from those of the same bird elsewhere. 



