SUBFAMILY TETRAONIN^. 203 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Under parts of adult male, mostly black. 

 a. Upper tail-coverts narrowly tipped with \ Canada grouse. 

 grayish white. S C. canadensis. 



franklin's 



b. Upper tail-coverts broadly tipped with / 



pure white. \ ^^^'-■=^'*- 



) C. frank lint. 



GENUS TYMPANUCHUS 

 (Latin Ty)upa7ium, a drum; -\-nticha,r\QQ\C). 



Tympanuchus, Gloger. Gemeinutzig, Hand- und Hilfsbuch, 

 Naturg. , 1842, p. 396. Type, Tetrao cupido, Linn. 



Air sacs on sides of neck, above which arise tufts of winglike, 

 lengthened, more or less acuminated, feathers. Head crested. 

 Tarsi rather scantily feathered to the toes, the latter webbed at 

 base. Tail short, rounded, consisting of eighteen feathers. Size 

 large, sexes similar. 



The Prairie Hens are divided into three species and one sub- 

 species, constituting a well-marked and distinct group of the sub- 

 family, with characteristics that easily give them recognition 

 among their allies. They are essentially birds of the plains, 

 although they do not hesitate to perch upon the limbs of trees, 

 fences, or any support that may be most convenient at the time. 

 They go usually in coveys, generally consisting of a single family, 

 but in the autumn are accustomed to gather in enormous packs 

 and then are very difficult of approach. Formerly abundant 

 over much of eastern North America, they are now confined to 

 the prairie countries of the west and south, and the island of 

 Martha's Vineyard on the eastern coast. Throughout their dis- 

 persion there is little or no difference in the habits of the various 

 races. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Winglike tufts of feathers on the sides of 

 neck, 

 a. Neck tufts pointed. Size large. 



a' . Scapulars without conspicuous white ) prairie hen. 

 terminal spot. Neck tufts very long. ) T. aviert'canus. 



