PARTRIDGES 2173 



Another North- American type is the sharp-tailed grouse, of which 

 two forms are known, namely, the large dark northern race (Pedioccetes 

 phasianellus} , inhabiting the interior of British North America, and 

 a smaller more rufous and buff southern form (P. columbianus) . Both are charac- 

 terized by their wedge-shaped tails of eighteen feathers, in which the middle pair is 

 larger than the rest, the males not being provided with air sacs. 



We now come to two genera forming a somewhat different group of 

 Ruffed Grouse . , . , . . . , 



grouse, the various members having the lower parts of the legs as well 



as the toes devoid of feathers. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus} of North 

 America extends over a wide range and is subject to climatic variations. This bird 

 is recognized by the frilled ruffles of black feathers on each side of the neck, though 

 in some specimens they vary to dull chestnut. The general color above is rufous 

 or gray, but every intermediate stage of plumage may be met with. Captain Ben- 

 dire writes that "the mating season occasionally commences early in February, but 

 usually about the beginning of March, when the familiar drumming of the male 

 may be frequently heard, though the bird is not often seen. This drumming of the 

 ruffed grouse has been often described, and many different theories have been ad- 

 vanced as to how the sound is produced. It is generally conceded that the sound is 

 produced by the outspread wings of the bird being brought suddenly downward 

 against the air, without striking anything." 



The hazel hens form the last group of the family, and differ from 

 the ruffled grouse in having the plumage of the sexes different, and 

 lacking the conspicuous ruffles on the sides of the neck, while the tail is composed 

 of sixteen instead of eighteen feathers. Besides the common species ( Tetrastes 

 bonasia) of Northern and Central Europe from Scandinavia to Kamchatka and 

 Spain to North China, a peculiar form (7! griseiventris} , with the breast and under 

 parts sandy gray narrowly barred with black, comes from Perm in East Russia, while 

 a third ( T. severtzowi), with the outer tail feathers black barred with white, is found 

 in Northeastern Tibet. The common species, like its North- American ally, has 

 two extreme phases of plumage, a rufous and a gray, and every intermediate variety 

 of color can be found. 



PARTRIDGES, PHEASANTS, TURKEYS, AND GUINEA FOWLS 

 Family PHASIANIDsE 



The great bulk of the typical game birds are included in this family, which 

 contains fifty-nine genera, with forty-seven peculiar to the Old World, and all the 

 remainder American. In all, the legs and feet are naked, the latter never being 

 fringed with horny comb-like appendages as in the grouse, while many have the 

 legs armed with one or more pairs of spurs. The family may be divided into three 

 subfamilies the first (Perdiana} including the partridges, francolins, and quails, 

 and their allies; the second (Phasianinte) the true pheasants; and the third (Odon- 

 tophorince} the American partridges and quails, in which the cutting edge of the 



