[ 396 ] 



of the wood. The figure, which Mr. Ed- 

 wards has given of the former bird, does not 

 exa6lly correspond with the Society's speci- 

 men, as he has represented the marks on 

 the breast half-moon shaped, though they 

 are heart-shaped as those on the belly in the 

 dried bird ; that is, they are white spots, 

 with a pale brownish yellow cordated brim. 

 Nor can I agree with Mr. Edwards, when 

 he calls this bird the long-tailed grous from 

 Hudson's Bay ; for its tail is really very short, 

 in comparison with that of other grouse, and 

 its smallness and acuteness afford one of the 

 most distinguishing chara61:ers of the species. 



The native Indians call these pheasant grouses, 

 Oc-kiss-cow : they are found all the year 

 long, amongst the small juniper bushes, of 

 which the buds are their principal food, as 

 also the buds of birch in winter, and all sorts 

 of berries in summer. They never vary their 

 colours ; nor is there any great difference be- 

 tween the male and female, except in the 

 caruncula or comb over the eye, which in the 

 male is an inch long, and f of an inch 

 high. The account from Albany Fort adds, 

 that the colour of the male is somewhat 

 browner, and almost a chocolate on the breast. 

 Their flesh is of a light brown, exceeding 

 juicy, and they are very plump. They lay 

 from 9 to 13 eggs ; their young can run al- 

 most as soon as they are hatched ; they make 

 a piping noise somewhat like a chicken. The 

 cock has a shrill crowing note, not very loud ; 

 I but 



( -6 ) 



