TUE FEATHER-TRACTS OF NORTH AMERICAN GROUSE 



AND QUAIL. 



By Hubert Lyman Clark, Ph. D., 



Instructor in Zoology, Jmherst College. 



Some years ago the examination of some of our Eastern game birds 

 aroused my interest in the pterylography of the Gallinie, and I deter- 

 mined to study the pteryloses of as many of the birds of that group as 

 could be i)r()cured, my hope being to examine specimens of every North 

 American S[)ecies. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1802, a systeanatic 

 effort to obtain the desired material in the form of fresli or alcoholic 

 birds was begun. It seemed best not to use skins under any circum- 

 stances for the main features of the pterylosis, on account of tlie dis- 

 tortion unavoidable in their preparation. Owing to the rarity of some 

 species and the difficulty of obtaining others, it proved imi^ossible to 

 carry out the original plan, and the examination of all the North 

 American genera has been substituted for it. That a certain measure 

 of success has been possible, is due to the great courtesy and kindness 

 which has been shown by those to whom application for assistance in 

 procuring birds was made. Every person to whom I have written for 

 birds has gone to no little trouble to accommodate me, and in some 

 cases my indebtedness to these friends is greater than can be repaid, 

 and this is the more remarkable, since in nearly every instance my cor- 

 respondent and I were comi)lete strangers to each other. Under each 

 genus I have credited the material to the jjersons from whom it was 

 received, and to all of them I herewitli extend my hearty thanks. But 

 there are a few to whom I am under peculiar obligations, and to them 

 more especial thanks are due. To Dr. Mortimer Jesurun, of Douglas, 

 Wyoming, I owe not only some of my best material but the most unusual 

 courtesy in details connected with collecting and shii)ping the birds; 

 to Mr. Frederic A. Lucas and Dr. R. W. Shuleldt, of Washington, I am 

 indebted for important suggestions; to Mr. R. Ridgway and Dr. C. W, 

 Richmond, of the United States National Museum, for many favors 

 connected with the collections of Nortli American (jalliniu; to Dr. J. A. 

 Allen, of New York City, for assistance in synonymy and identification ; 

 to Mr. G. W. Mackay, of Boston, Massachusetts, for his efforts to pro- 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXI— No. 1166. 

 Proc. N. M. vol. xxi 41 641 



