138 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



frequently in the valleys. It frequents scrubby wooded places rather than open 

 hill sides and is very easy to approach and kill; this confidence or stupidity 

 together with its clownish appearance are the reasons for its commonly used 

 local name. Their nests are hollows in the ground, lined with grasses and con- 

 cealed by overhanging tufts of grass. The eggs, which are pure white, are not 

 distinguishable with certainty from those of the Bob-white, but average longer. 

 Size 1.25 x .95. 



297. Dusky Grouse. Dendragapus obscurus. 



Range. Rocky Mountain region from central Montana south to New Mexico. 



With the exception of the Sage Grouse, this species is the largest of the family, 

 being about 20 inches in length. The general tone of its plumage below is gray; 

 above, blackish gray and the tail blackish with a broad terminal band of light 

 gray. They frequent the wooded and especially the coniferous districts, where they 

 build their nests under fallen trees or at the bases of standing ones. They lay 

 from six to ten eggs of a buffy color, sparsely spotted and blotched with brown- 

 ish. Size 2.00 x 1.40. 



29 7a. Sooty Grouse. Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosusi. 



Range. Mountain ranges along the 

 Pacific coast from California to Brit- 

 ish Columbia. 



Like the last, this somewhat darker 

 subspecies is met with in timbered 

 regions, where its habits are about the 

 same as those of the Ruffed Grouse, 

 except, of course, that they are not 

 nearly as shy as the Grouse in New 

 England. Their eggs are laid in 

 hollows beside stumps or under logs. 

 The eggs are buff colored, spotted with 

 reddish brown. Size 2.00 x 1.40. 



[Rich buff.] 



29 7 b. Richardson Grouse. Dendragapus obscurus richardsonii. 



Range. Northern Rocky Mountains from central Montana to British Columbia. 



A dark variety with no terminal band of gray on the tail. Its Jiabits, nesting 

 and eggs are precisely like those of the preceding species. 



298. Canada Grouse; Spruce Grouse. Canachites canadensis. 



Range. Northern United States and southern British Provinces; west to 

 Minnesota. 



A dark species, smaller than the last (15 inches 

 long), and easily recognized by its black throat 

 and extensive black patch on the breast. The 

 habits of this species and the two varieties into 

 which it has been sub-divided, are the same; as a 

 species, they are very tame, will not fly unless 

 actually obliged to, and frequently allow themselves 

 to be knocked down with sticks. Their nests are 

 hollows in the leaves on the ground, generally 

 under the sheltering branches of a low spreading 

 fir tree. The six to fifteen eggs are a bright buff 

 color, blotched and spotted boldly with various 

 shades of brown. Size 1.70 x 1.25. 



[Bright buff.] 



