THE SOOTY GROUSE. 
on 
N 
them, but let some representative and responsible body, like the State Fish and 
Game Protective Association, decide upon the stock required, and keep the 
breed true—else we shall have a mere barnyard. 
No. 231. 
SOOTY GROUSE. 
A. O. U. No. 279 a. Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus Ridgw. 
Synonyms.—B1vur Grousrt. Brack Grousk. Woop Grouse. LAarce Woop 
Grouse. Mountain Grouse. Hoover. 
Description.—dA dult male: General plumage sooty slate, color deepest, nearly 
or quite black, on upper back and in ring about throat, lighter, slaty, on breast and 
belly, feathers mottled with buffy and taw ny on wings, back, and sides, with ashy 
(lightly ) on rump and upper tail-coverts, and with “large admixture of white on 
tee belly and under tail-coverts; throat heavily flecked with white; shoulder- 
patches of pure white, more or less concealed; subterminal area of tail clear 
slaty-black ; terminal band ashy gray, .30-.60 wide; comb over eye and concealed 
spot of naked skin, the tympanum, orange-yellow. Bill black; feet with black 
soles. Adult female: Ground-color of male, everywhere, save on concealed webs 
of rectrices and quills, more or less mottled by ochraceous and taw ny, bluish ash, 
and white, the mottling of back falling more or less into bars. Young females: 
Like adult, but feathers oe underparts with hammer-headed white shaft- lines. 
Adult male, length: 20.00-22.00 (508- 558.8), sometimes 24.00 (609.6) ; av erage 
of seven males taken at nee wing 9.15 (232.4); tail 6.40 (162.6) ; bill 80 
(20.3). Female, length: 17.00-19.00 (431.8-482.6) ; av. of three Glacier speci- 
mens: wing 8.46 (214.9); tail 5.15 (130.8) ; bill .76 (109.3). 
Recognition Marks.—Crow size; dark slaty coloration; tarsi bare below, 
and tail-coverts not white-banded, as distinguished from Franklin Grouse, larger ; 
tail definitely tipped with white, as compared with black tail of D. o. richardsonii. 
Nesting.—Nest: on ground, a slight hollow, lined with a few Eves) grasses, 
and stray feathers, usually under protection of tree, bush clump, or grass. Eggs: 
6-12, 16 of record, pale creamy-buff, ee and sparingly freckled wit reddish 
brown. Av. size, 2.06X1.36 (52.3x 34.5). Season: May-June, according to 
altitude ; one brood. 
General Range.—Timbered sections from California north to Alaska, east to 
Nevada, Idaho, and eastern British Columbia, where shading into D. obscurus 
and D. o. richardsonu, respectively. 
Range in Washington.—In coniferous timber thruout the State, resident 
from sea-level to the limit of trees. May possibly be replaced by D. 0. richardsonii 
in the Blue Mountains, but specimens from the northeastern corner of the State 
are apparently true fuliginosus. 
Authorities—Tetrao obscurus, Say, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. Vol. IX 
Sieh, Bio Ws (CAS, WEES Wn IDS IK), IRE IBS 18, 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. P. C. BN. E. 
