DUSKY GROUSE 
297. Dendragapus obscurus. 20 in. 
Plumage gray, white and black, with a few rusty 
markings on the back; wide gray band on tip of tail. 
Female smaller, browner and more barred above. These 
large grouse are found on side hills or in gulches, usu- 
ally not far from water. Like our common Ruffed 
Grouse, during mating season, the males of this species 
strut about with tail fully spread over the back, and 
head thrown back until it nearly touches the tail. At 
this season they are very pugnacious and the woods will 
resound with their challenging *toots,”’—loud and _ hol- 
low sounds with a ventriloquial effect. 
{ges laid on ground in woods, usually under 
fallen logs or at the bases of trees; buffy, sparsely 
spotted with brown. (2.00 x 1.40); May, June. 
Range.—Rocky Mts., from Mexico to Montana and 
east to South Dakota. 297b., Richardson Grouse (D. o 
richardsonii), is found on the eastern slopes of the 
Rockies, north to British America. Little or no band 
on the tail. 
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