SUBFAMILY TETRAONIN^. 



This subfamily contains the Grouse of the world, 

 consisting of those birds which have the legs and feet 

 more or less feathered, such as the Ruffed Grouse 

 feathered to the heel, the Prairie Grouse and their allies 

 feathered to the toes, and Ptarmigan with both legs 

 and toes completely hidden by feathers. With the ex- 

 ception of the Turkeys this subfamily comprises the 

 largest known species of gallinaceous birds, and is fairly 

 well distributed over North America and the western 

 half of the Eastern Hemisphere. The larger number of 

 species with their subspecies are found in North America 

 between the Arctic Sea and the northern boundary of 

 Mexico, and the two great oceans that line the eastern 

 and western shores. The American species which in- 

 habit the prairies are met with in coveys usually com- 

 posed of from a dozen to twenty individuals, but at 

 certain seasons of the year, generally late in the autumn, 

 are accustomed to congregate in flocks often of hun- 

 dreds, and are then exceedingly wild and wary. The 

 forest-loving species are generally found in small com- 

 panies, the covey usually consisting of a single family, 

 and the birds never gather together in such enormous 

 numbers as do those inhabiting the plains. The flesh of 

 the species dwelling upon the prairies is mostly dark, 

 while that of the forest-loving birds, with one or two ex- 

 ceptions, is white. The flesh of all furnishes most 

 excellent food, save perhaps that of the Sage Cock, 

 and at certain seasons, the Spruce Grouse, which is bit- 



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