SPRUCE PARTRIDGE ; CANADA GROUSE. 133 



by Eichardson, they have a bitter, disagreeable taste, and 

 are hardly fit to eat. This Grouse may be readily kept in 

 confinement, and even made to breed there. Mr. Thomas 

 Lincoln, of Dennj^sville, fed some of them on oats, on which 

 food they appeared to thrive very well. The eggs of this 

 bird vary in length from 1,75 inches to 1,68, and in breadth 

 from 1,22 to 1,20 inches. Eggs taken at Fort Eesolution, 

 by Mr. Kennicott, have a ground of a deep dull cream 

 color, shaded with ochre. They are of an oblong oval-shape, 

 speckled and marked with spots of a dark chestnut-color. 

 In these specimens the spots are larger towards the smaller 

 end. 



