SUBFAMILY TETRAONINZA. 
Tus subfamily contains the Grouse of the world, 
consisting of those birds which have the legs and feet 
more or less feathered, such as the Ruffed Grouse 
feathered to the heel, the Prairie Grouse and their allies 
feathered to the toes, and Ptarmigan with both legs 
and toes completely hidden by feathers. With the ex- 
ception of the Turkeys this subfamily comprises the 
largest known species of gallinaceous birds, and is fairly 
well distributed over North America and the western 
half of the Eastern Hemisphere. The larger number of 
species with their subspecies are found in North America 
between the Arctic Sea and the northern boundary of 
Mexico, and the two great oceans that line the eastern 
and western shores. The American species which in- 
habit the prairies are met with in coveys usually com- 
posed of from a dozen to twenty individuals, but at 
certain seasons of the year, generally late in the autumn, 
are accustomed to congregate in flocks often of hun- 
dreds, and are then exceedingly wild and wary. The 
forest-loving species are generally found in small com- 
panies, the covey usually consisting of a single family, 
and the birds never gather together in such enormous 
numbers as do those inhabiting the plains. The flesh of 
the species dwelling upon the prairies is mostly dark, 
while that of the forest-loving birds, with one or two ex- 
ceptions, is white. The flesh of all furnishes most 
excellent food, save perhaps that of the Sage Cock, 
and at certain seasons, the Spruce Grouse, which is bit- 
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