GAME-BIRDS AND PIGEONS. 189 



England, but not until we get far westward of all 

 this region do the grouse become a really prominent 

 feature of the avi-fauna. 



The Dusky Grouse is one of these Western forms. 

 Dr. Lord says of it, 



" It arrives at Vancouver Island, at Nesqually, and along the banks 

 of the Fraser River about the end of March and beginning of April. 

 The male bird, on its first arrival, sits on the summit of a tall pine- 

 tree or on a rock, announcing his arrival by a kind of love-song, a 

 sort of booming noise repeated at short intervals, and so deceptive 

 that I have often stood under the tree where the bird was perched 

 and imagined the sound some distance away.* It is extremely diffi- 

 cult to see this bird when you know it is in the tree, so much does it 

 resemble a knob or the end of a dead branch. Soon after their ar- 

 rival they pair, but during the whole nesting-time the male continues 

 the booming noise." 



The Canada Grouse, as its name implies, is a 

 northern bird that ranges more beyond our boun- 

 daries than within them, but is found in " the timber 

 districts in Northern New England." They are a 

 bird of the pine and spruce woods, and on products 

 of this vegetation they are said largely to feed. 



The Ruffed Grouse, which in the Middle States is 

 usually called the " Pheasant," may be said to be " the 

 survivors of a once numerous tribe," as we speak of 

 Indians ; for certainly, common as this bird still is, 

 it is as nothing compared to half a century ago, and 

 judging from references in old manuscripts presum- 

 ably to this bird, they at one time or at the settle- 

 ment of the country were extremely abundant. 

 " Their drumming in the woods would sound often 

 as if every hive of bees was swarming." 



Wilson says of this bird, 



