598 ornithology. 



Family TETRAONIDJ:— Grouse. 

 Canace obscura. 



Dusky Grouse. 



Tetrao obscurus, Say, Long's Exped., II, 1823, 14, 202.— Baird, Birds N. Am., 

 1858, 620; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 1859, No. 459— CooPEB, Orn. Oal., I, 1870, 

 526.— CouES, K«>,y, 1872, 233; Clieck List, 1873, No. 381 ; Birds N.W., 1874, 30.->. 



Canace obscura, Bonap., Comp. Rend., XLV, 1857, 428.— B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. 

 Birds, lU, 1874, 422, pi. Lix, figs. 1, 2. 



The "Mountain Grouse," or "Blue Grouse," was a more or less common 

 species on all the ranges clothed with a sufficient extent of pine forests, the 

 existence of which seemed to strictly govern its distribution. It was found 

 on the Sierra Nevada, near Carson City, and on several of the higher 

 ranges of the Great Basin; but it did not occur in abundance until we 

 arrived at the Wahsatch and Uintah Mountains, where it literally abounded 

 in certain localities, particularly on the latter range. 



Although .seldom seen " in the dense pine forests, we always found 

 these Grouse in their vicinity, usually in the open glades with scattered 

 trees and brush, with thicker woods on either side. Our acquaintance with 

 this species being made wholly in the foil and latter part of summer, we 

 did not learn much regarding its habits. We can testify, however, to the 

 excellence of its flesh, which is white and tender as that of a partridge. 



List of specimens. 



891, S ad.; East Humboldt Mountains (near Camp 22), September 4, 1868. 21— 

 31 J — 7 J. Weight, 2^ lbs. Bill black, the lower mandible slightly variegated with 

 whitish at the base; iris, rawumber; bare space over eye, orange-yellow; toes, 

 brownish-gray; claws, black. 



954, 9 ad.; Wahsatch Mountains, near Salt Lake City, October, 1868. 



1290, 5 «rZ.; Parley's Park, June 25, 1809. 22— 3U. Weight, 3A lbs. Bill, black ; 

 iris, raw-umber; naked superciliary space, orange; toes, lilaceous-gray. 



1370, ? ad.; Pack's Canon, Uintah Mountains, July 5, 1809. 19—29. Bill, black ; 

 iris, rawumber; toes, ashy. 



1371, 9 ad.; Pack's Canon, July 5, 1869. Same remarks. 



1372, juv.; same date and locality. 

 1382, juv.; Pack's Canon, July 8. 

 1444, ijvp.; Parley's Park, July 23. 



