300 ' DUSKY GROUSE. 



podes, two Bonasice, and eight typical Tetraones. This enumeratior. 

 does not include the Tetrao rupestris, which we do not consider well 

 established, any more than the new species of Mr. Brehm. The species 

 of Lagopus, as might be inferred from their inhabiting high northern 

 latitudes, are common to both continents, with the exception of the Red 

 Grouse, T. scoticus, which is peculiar to the British Islands, and which, 

 from its not changing the colors of its plumage with the seasons, may 

 be considered as forming the passage to the true Tetraones. Of these 

 there are five in North America, each and all distinct from the three 

 European. Of the two Bo^iasice, one is peculiar to the old, and the 

 other to the new continent, the former having sixteen, the latter eighteen 

 feathers to the tail. Thus the entire number is seven in Europe, while 

 it is eight in North America. Setting aside the two common to both, 

 and the respective Bonasice, we may consider the Cock of the Woods 

 of Europe, as the parallel of the Cock of the Plains of America. The 

 Black Grouse, T. tefrix, will find its equivalent in the Dusky Grouse, 

 T. obsc'urus ; but the T. hyhridus has no representative in America, 

 any more than the T. scoticus. These however are more than replaced 

 as to number, by the T. phasiancllus, T. cupido, and T. canadensis, all 

 American species which have none corresponding to them in the old 

 world. 



Perhaps no other naturalist has personally inspected all the known 

 species of this genus of both continents, and having examined numerous 

 specimens even of some of the rarest, and possessing all but one in my 

 own collection, my advantages are peculiar for giving a monography of 

 this interesting genus. Such a work it is my intention hereafter to 

 publish, illustrated with the best figures, and accompanied with further 

 details respecting their habits. In the mean time I shall merely state, 

 that being replaced in Africa by Pterocles, and in South America by 

 Tinamus, all the known species of Grouse are found in North America 

 or in Europe, the European also inhabiting Asia ; from whose elevated 

 central and northern regions, yet unexplored, may be expected any new 

 species that still remain to be discovered. The extensive wilds of North 

 America may also furnish more, though we do not think so ; for since 

 we have become acquainted with both sexes of the Dusky Grouse and 

 the Cock of the Plains, we have been able to refer satisfactorily to 

 known species all those of which any indications occur in the accounts 

 of travellers in this country. 



North America is exceeded by no country in the beauty, number, 

 and valuable qualities of her Grouse ; and she is even perhaps superior 

 to all others in these respects since the discovery of the Cock of the 

 Plains. Although the careful and accurate researches of Wilson had 

 led him to the belief that there existed but two species of Grouse in 

 the territory of the United States, no less than six are now known to 



