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TETRAO CUPIDO— LINN. 



PINNATED GROUSE. 



Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao cupido, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Tetrao cupido, Bonap. Syn. 



Pinnated Grouse, Nutt. Man. 



Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao cupido, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Male with tufts of elongated feathers on the 

 sides of the neck, upper parts transversely barred with blackish-brown 

 and yellowis|i-red ; lower parts grayish-white, transversely barred 

 with dull reddish-brown. Female with but a slight trace of the 

 elongated tufts so conspicuous in the male. Adult male with the 

 head slightly crested ; on either side of the neck a tuft of rather 

 stiff feathers, under which lie those orange-colored sacks — which, 

 when inflated, are so conspicuous in the male ; upper parts blackish 

 brown, transversely marked with pale reddish-brown ; tail plain 

 brown, short and rounded, tipped with white ; throat pale yellow- 

 ish white, spotted with pale reddish-brown and dusky ; legs covered 

 down to the toes with hairy feathers. Female smaller than the 

 male ; the plumage duller ; the tail irregularly barred with dull 

 reddish-white and more broadly tipped. Length eighteen inches, 

 wing eight and a quarter. 



On Long Island the " Prairie Hen " is very nearly if not entirely 

 extinct. Thirty years ago, it was quite abundant on the brushy 

 plains in Suffolk county, which tract of country is well adapted to 

 its habits — but being a favorite bird with sportsmen, as well as 

 commanding a high price in the New York markets, it has been 

 pursued, as a matter of pleasure and profit, until now it is very 

 doubtful if a brace can be found on the Island. On a recent ex- 

 cursion over its former favorite haunts, I could find no trace of it. 

 In conversation with several of the elder residents, they spoke of 



