204. 
5556 
578 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— GALLIN 4 — ALECTOROPODES. 
of 16-20 feathers. Sides of the neck frequentigg#ith lengthened or otherwise modified feathers, 
or a bare disteusible skin, or both. 
The true Grouse are confined to the northern hemisphere, and reach their highest develop- 
ment, as a group, in North America, where singularly varied forms occur. The only Old World 
species are — the great Tetrao wrogallus, or Capercaillie of Europe, and its allied Asiatic species ; 
Lyrurus tetriz, the “black game” of Europe, with curiously curled tail-feathers; Canace 
falcipennis of Siberia, the representative of our Spruce Partridge ; Bonasa betulina of Northern 
Europe and Asia, like our Ruffed Grouse ; and two or three species of Ptarmigan (Lagopus). 
All the species of this subfamily used to be referred to a single genus Tetrao—the only 
generic name familiar to sportsmen and others who make no technical study of birds. But such 
must not be surprised to find me discarding this well-known name, and adopting several different 
ones as generic designations of our Grouse, which differ much among themselves, in points of 
form and structure, and are all widely diverse from Tetrao wrogallus of Europe, type of the 
genus. 
Analysis of N. Am. Genera of Tetraonine. 
Tail stiff, pointed, wedge-shaped, equalling or exceeding the wings, of 20 feathers; scaly and hair-like 
feathers on breast. Tarsi full-feathered. Verylarge . . . a) ensue) |e We sn COMMOCENC IGT ZUE 
Tail stiff, pointed, wedge-shaped, much shorter than wings, of 18 Sannere: no obviously peculiar feathers 
on a Tarsi full-feathered . . . . +» « .. , Pediecetes 206 
Tail stifiish, rounded, much shorter than wing, of 18 fenton vaseline tufts end great bare space on 
neck. Tarsiscant-feathered . .. . - . . . ~ Cupidonia *207 
Tail soft, rounded, about as long as wing, of ‘18 feather css like tufts on neck, but no obvious 
bare space. Tarsibare below .. . . . . Bonasa 208 
Tail stiffish, flat, square, shorter than =o of 160 or 20 toate ; no ev widently pecallas feathers or Aes iously 
bare space on neck. Tarsifull-feathered . . .. . Wy tediet at etre) th etc Rewer CCUG Came 
Tail, etc., asin Canace. Tarsi and toes fully feathered. White in ee Aas ce eee ok eC UODUSmecUs 
CA'NACE, (Lat. Canace, a proper name.) TREE GROUSE. BLack GRousE. No obvi- 
ously lengthened or otherwise peculiar feathers on neck or head. No obviously naked space on 
neck: but there is a piece of skin capable of distension. especially in the Western species of 
Dendragapus. <A strip of bare colored skin over eye. No crest. Tarsi feathered to the toes. 
Tail little shorter than wing, stiffish, nearly square, of broad, obtuse feathers, normally 16 (in 
Canace proper) or 20 (in Dendragapus) in number. Of medium and large size, and dark 
blended colors, inhabiting woodland, like the species of Bonasa, and quite erbenany northerly 
and alpine. Sexes distinguishable. Eggs heavily-colored. 
Analysis of Subgenera, Species, and Varieties. 
Tail normally of 16 feathers (exceptionally of 14 or 18, as an individual peculiarity). (Canace proper.) 
Tail with broad orange-brown end, its upper coverts without white spots. Eastern . . canadensis 555 
Tail without orange-brown end, its upper coverts with white spots. Western. . . . . jranklini 556 
Tail normally of 20 feathers (exceptionally 18 or 22 ?). (Dendragapus.) Western. 
Tail black, with broad slate-colored end. 
Under parts clear bluish slate color. Rocky Mts., etc., southerly. . . . . . . . « obscwra 557 
Under parts sooty plumbeous. Alaska. . ......+.2.=.2.+.. ++... <Juliginosa 559 
Tail black, with narrow or no slate-colored end. Rocky Mts., etc., northerly. . . . . richardsoni 558 
C. canaden’sis. (Of Canada. Fig. 397.) CANADA Grouse. SporreD GROUSE. SPRUCE 
Grouse. Spruce “ PartripGe.” Adult cock: Head smooth, but feathers susceptible of erec- 
tion into a slight crest. A colored comb of naked skin over the eye, bright yellow or reddish 
when fully injected. Tail slightly rounded, of 16 feathers, a scant inch broad to their very ends. 
Tarsi full-feathered to the toes, which are naked, sealy, and fringed. Tail black, broadly tipped 
with orange-brown ; its upper coverts without decidedly white tips. Under parts glossy black, 
extensively varied with white; under tail-coverts tipped with white; sides and breast with 
white bars or semicircles ; white spots bounding the throat ; white spots on lore. Upper parts 
wavy — barred with black and gray, usually also with some tawny markings on the back and 
wings. In full feather, the appearance is of a black bird, grayer above, spotty with white 
