THE AMERICAN CAPERCAILZIES. 59 



Range, — Southern Rocky Mountains, extending in the west 

 to Wahsatch, in the south to New Mexico and Arizona, and 

 north to the South Pass. 



In South-eastern Idaho the Dusky Capercailzie is said to 

 intergrade with the darker and more northern form, D. 

 fuliginosus. 



Habits. — This and the two allied forms are perhaps the 

 finest, and, with the exception of the Sage Cock, the largest of 

 the American Grouse. In the males of all three the general 

 colour of the plumage is smoky-black, and hence the present 

 species is often known as " Blue Grouse " as well as " Pine 

 Grouse " and "Pine Hen." From Mr. Gale's interesting notes 

 published in Captain Bendire's excellent work, " Life Histories 

 of North American Birds," so often alluded to in these pages, 

 the following account is taken : " Here in Colorado the Dusky 

 Grouse ranges from an altitude of about 7,000 feet to the 

 timber-line. Having once selected a place to raise a brood 

 they do not stray far from the neighbourhood. Water at no 

 great distance is always kept in view. The lower gulches and 

 side hills are mostly chosen for their summer homes. During 

 the mating-season, if you are anywhere near the haunts of a 

 pair, you will surely hear the male and most likely see him. 

 He may interview you on foot, strutting along before you, in 

 short hurried tacks alternating from right to left, with wide- 

 spread tail tipped forward, head drawn in and back, and wings 

 dragging along the ground, much in the style of a Turkey- 

 gobbler. At other times you may hear his mimic thunder 

 overhead again and again, in his flight from tree to tree. As 

 you walk along, he leads, and this reconnoitring on his part, if 

 you are not familiar with it, may cause you to suppose that the 

 trees are alive with these Grouse. He then takes his stand 

 upon a rock, stump, or log, and, in the manner already de- 

 scribed, distends the lower part of his neck, opens his frill of 

 white, edged with the darker feather tips, showing in the centre 

 a pink narrow line describing somewhat the segment of a circle, 



