148 TETRAONID^E I GROUSE. 



bird in Massachusetts, and of its extirpation long since 

 from all portions except Martha's Vineyard, where a few 

 " are said " still to exist. At p. 37 of the same admirable 

 catalogue, under head of " Introduced undomesticated 

 species," the writer speaks of their introduction at dif- 

 ferent times in Barnstable County, adding that " none of 

 them or their descendants are certainly known to still 

 exist there." 



Viewing the " perhaps " and " it is said " of the later 

 records, it is gratifying to be able to pronounce without 

 reserve of the preservation of this fine game bird in our 

 country up to the present time. According to Mr. 

 Purdie, quite a little colony still lives on Martha's Vine- 

 yard, Mass., the last New England stronghold of the 

 species. (See Maynard's Birds of Eastern North Amer- 

 ica, part xiv, July, 1880, p. 351.) 



It would seem perfectly feasible to stock suitable 

 localities with Prairie Hens, which, if protected by 

 stringent law for a period of years, might then resume 

 the role of the fine game bird which the species formerly 

 took in New England. 



CANADA GROUSE, OR SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. 

 CANACE CANADENSIS (L.) Reich. 



Chars. Male : Tail of sixteen feathers, rounded, black, with a 

 broad orange-brown terminal bar. No obviously peculiar feath- 

 ers on the side of the neck. Legs feathered lo between the 

 toes. The usual naked, colored strip of skin over the eye. 

 Prevailing color black, with numerous sharp white bars and 

 spots on the under parts, and on the upper parts finely waved 

 with gray or tawny. Length, about 16.00; wing, 7.00; tail, 



