648 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



formly 18. In the number of rectrices we find tbe most remarkable 

 diversity, as is shown by the following table: 



Nianher of rectrices in Dendragapus. 



It is unfortunate that a larger number of specimens was not avail- 

 able for comparisou, but it seems clear that fid iff inosus and richardsoni 

 represent opposite extremes in the variation in the number of rectrices. 

 Not having had any specimens of richardsoni in the tiesh, I can not say 

 whether a similar extreme is shown in other characters or not. If 18 

 was the number of rectrices characteristic of the ancestor of the tree 

 grouse, then fuligi7iosus shows a tendency to follow canace in the loss of 

 a pair, while richardsoni has already acquired an additional pair. 

 Further investigation into this question will doubtless prove of iuterest. 



CANACE. 



Material examined: Three specimens of C. canadensis from Mr. Egaii. of Halifax, 

 and one of C. franlUni from Mr. Faunin, of Victoria, British Columbia. Six- 

 teen skins, chiefly from the U. S. National Museum, have been examined 

 regarding the number of rectrices. 



General pterylosis differs from that of Dendragapns in having a 



longer dorsal apterium, femoral tracts much smaller in proportion to 



the size of the bird, and the ventral tracts more distinctly separated 



from the sternals. The secondaries are 17 in number. The number of 



rectrices is uniformly 16, the only exception being one specimen with 



only 14. I am inclined to think that iu this case the loss of one pair 



was due to an accident. Canace approaches Lagopus in most respects, 



and appears to be a sort of connecting link between that genus and 



Dendraqajnis. 



LAGOPUS. 



Material examined : Four specimens of L. lagopns from Mr. Egau, Halifax, Nova 

 Scotia, and two from Mr. William Clark, Winnipeg, Manitoba; three of L. 

 rupesfris from Mr. Egan, and two of L. welclrii from Mr. Egan. The latter 



were ideiititicd for me by Dr. J. A. Allen, 

 sent me were collected in Newfoundland. 



All of the specimens Mr. Egan 



The dorsal apterium is longer than in Dendragapus, the femoral tract 

 much smaller proportionately, and the ventral tracts are not so obviously 

 connected with the sternal. The feet are feathered almost to the claws 

 in front, but the tarsus is bare behind. The apterium over the eye was 

 very small or wanting in loelchii. No other specific deferences were 

 observed and there was little individual variatiou. The secondaries 

 aie 18 or 19 in number and the rectrices are 16, though the middle pair 



