SUBFAMILY TETRAONIN^. 201 



Legs bare from heel, scutellated in front. Carriage upright, 

 dignified. 



One species and three subspecies are recognized of this genus 

 in North America and three allied species {Genus Tetrastes), in 

 the Eastern Hemisphere. They are strictly birds of the woods 

 and thickets, exceedingly cunning and wary, strong of wing and 

 fruitful in expedients to foil the hunter and his four-footed ally, 

 and secure their own escape. The flight is powerful and well 

 sustained, and when startled the birds rise with such a whirring 

 noise that, on a calm day, it resounds through the woods like 

 distant thunder. The flesh is white and palatable, and the 

 species, from their thoroughly gamelike ways and habits, are 

 justly esteemed as perhaps the most gallant and desirable of our 

 native gallinaceous birds. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Upper parts rusty ; tail usually without 

 gray markings. 



a. Pale above, markings on lower parts in- \ 



-,. . rr. .. ,, . , , , / RUFFED GROUSE. 



distmct. Tail yellowish brown or och- )■ r, ,11 



raceous. ; 



b. Dark above, markings on lower part very \ sabine's grouse. 

 distinct. Tail rust color or reddish. ) B. ti. sahm. 



B. Upper parts mostly or entirely gray. Tail 

 gray. 



\ CANADIAN 



a. Size large. >• ruffed grouse. 



) B. 11. togata. 



GRAY RUFFED 

 GROUSE. 



B. u. umbel- 

 loides. 



b. Size small. 



GENUS DENDRAGAPUS 

 (Greek SevSpov, drendron, a tree; H-d7a7raa>, agapao,X.o\ov^. 



Dendragapus, Elliot. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1864, p. 23. 

 Type Tetrao obscurus. Say, 



Head slightly crested. Tail long, composed of twenty broad 

 feathers, square at tip. Air sacs on neck. Size large. 



The single species and its two subspecies, comprising this 

 genus, are fine large birds with white flesh, strictly inhabitants 



