OREGON OR SABINE'S GROUSE. 



'T^HIS is the handsomest member of the genus which 

 includes the Ruffed Grouse of America. It is found 

 on the mountains between the Coast Range and the 

 Pacific, from northern British Columbia to California. 

 Wherever its habitat approaches or overlaps that of an- 

 other member of the genus it intergrades with it, and 

 breeds wherever found. It is a beautiful bird, its rich 

 red plumage relieved by black markings, and the orange, 

 red, black, and white under tail-coverts render it a very 

 attractive object, alive or dead. It is very plentiful in 

 certain parts of British Columbia, and it is difficult to 

 find a more striking object than this bird as it walks 

 sedately before you, flipping out, with quick repeated 

 jerks, the feathers of the tail, occasionally spreading it 

 out to the fullest extent, and elevating and depressing 

 the crest of lengthened feathers on the head. 



Great numbers are killed by the Indians, mostly 

 snared, and brought into the towns and cities lying along 

 the Eraser and other rivers, and to Vancouver Island. 

 Its habits are like those of the Ruffed Grouse, and the 

 males drum from some fallen log, and fight furiously 

 in the pairing season, as has already been described. 

 If the season is mild they begin to drum in certain locali- 

 ties on the Pacific Coast in January or February, and 

 frequently at night. Whenever I have heard this solemn 

 roll after dark, which then has a peculiar weird sound, 

 I wondered at the bird's willingness to disclose its posi- 

 tion at an hour when many of its most active enemies 



8i 



