200 



GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



ter and unsavory, caused by the particular leaves on 

 which the birds feed. The American species, according 

 to my views, are divided into seven genera and twenty- 

 five species and subspecies. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 

 A. Legs feathered wholly, or in part. 



a. Legs bare from the heel downward. 



d. Legs feathered to the toes. 

 a' . Tail square at tip.- 



a" . Tail feathers 20. Air sacs present. 



b" . Tail feathers 16. Air sacs absent. 



b' . Tail rounded of 18 rather stiff feathers. 

 Tufts of lengthened feathers over air 

 sacs. 



c' . Tail pointed, of 18 soft feathers, cen- 

 tral pair longest. No tufts over air 

 sacs. 



d' . Tail pointed, stiff, of 20 filamentous I 

 feathers. Breast feathers hair-like. f 



B. Legs and toes covered with feathers. 



GENUS BONA S A 



RUFFED GROUSE. 



Bonasa. 

 Page 74. 



DUSKY GROUSE. 



Dendragapus. 

 Page 90. 



SPRUCE GROUSE. 



Canac?iites. 

 Page 100. 



PRAIRIE HENS. 



Tyinpatnichus. 

 Page no. 



SHARP-TAILED 

 GROUSE. 



PedicEcetes. 

 Page 123. 



COCK-OF-THE 

 PLAINS. 



Cejitrocercus. 

 Page 136. 



PTARMIGAN. 



La go pus. 

 Page 142. 



(Greek ^opaaa, Latin bonasiis, a bison. The bird's drumming 

 resembles a bison's bellow). 



Bonasa, Steph. Gen. Zool., vol. xi., 1819, p. 298. Type Tetrao 

 umbellus^ Linn. 



Head crested, rudimentary air sac covered by a tuft of broad, 

 soft, glossy feathers. Tail broad, long, rounded, fan-shaped. 



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