DESCRIPTIVE LIST 



KEY TO THE GROUSE, PARTRIDGE AND QUAIL FAMILY 



A. Crested. 



I. Head plume long and slender, consisting of two straight feathers; 

 sides chestnut, barred black and white. 



Mountain-Partridge ; Mountain-Quail 1 



II. Head plume erect, wedge shaped. 



1 . Sides olive-brown, white streaked ; middle of belly chestnut. 



Valley-Partridge; Valley-Quail 2 



2. Sides chestnut, white streaked ; middle of belly black. 



Gambel's Partridge; Gambel's Quail 3 



B. Uncrested. 



I. Feathers of top of head slightly lengthened; tufts of broad, soft, 

 blackish feathers on sides of throat. 



Oregon Ruffed Grouse 5 



II. Stiff, hair-like tufts fringing the neck; tail very long and stiff; size 

 very large. Living in sage-brush. 



Sage-Grouse ; Sage-Hen 7 



III. No tufts on throat. 



1. Tail short, with two soft, lengthened feathers; feet feathered 

 to the toes. 



Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse 6 



2. Tail square; a comb of naked skin over eye; black spot on 

 cheek. An inhabitant of the pines. 



Sooty Grouse 4 



THE GROUSE, PARTRIDGE AND QUAIL FAMILY OF SCRATCHING BIRDS 



Birds of swift wing, flying with a loud whirring sound. They obtain 

 their food largely by scratching the ground. They are ranked as game 

 birds and include a number of species familiar to sportsmen. 



1. Mountain-Partridge; "Mountain-Quail"; Oreort^x picius 

 (Dougl.). 



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