THE AMERICAN GROUSE 
Tetraonide. 
The differences between the American grouse and 
quail have been pointed out in two earlier chapters, 
but, nevertheless, may be repeated here. The feet of 
all the grouse are covered with hair-like feathers. In 
this group a tuft of small feathers runs forward from 
the forehead along each side of the bill and covers the 
nostrils, while in the quails the nostril is naked and is 
protected by an overhanging scale. All the grouse 
have on head over the eyes narrow patches of naked 
skin, and most or all of them have on the sides of the 
neck bare patches, which are often inflatable. 
The pectinations on the toes of the grouse are shed 
-annually. Mr. Manly Hardy of Brewer, Me., informs 
me that in the ruffed grouse the whole scaly envelope 
of the foot is shed each year. 
The grouse are usually large birds, while the quail 
are small, and in the grouse the tail is usually long, 
while in all the quail it is short. 
The outline drawings, showing the bill, foot, wing 
and tail of the various grouse and quail will assist those 
who desire to learn these characters. 
114 
