RASORES: TETRAONID^E. 237 



passes in size and splendor all others of this genus. The 

 tail is very long, making the entire length of the bird over 

 sixty inches. The secondaries are excessively elongated 

 and widened, and covered with ocellated spots, so that, 

 when the wings are expanded, the appearance of this 

 bird is splendid beyond description. 



TETRAONID.E, OR GROUSE FAMILY. This Family 

 comprises gallinaceous birds which have the nasal fossae 

 filled and covered with feathers, tarsi densely feathered, 

 toes usually naked and pectinated along their edges. 



The Genus Tetrao has the tarsus feathered to and be- 

 tween the bases of the toes, and the color mainly black. 

 The Grouse of this genus inhabit wooded regions. 



The Dusky Grouse, T. obscurus, Say, -of Nebraska and 

 to the Cascade Mountains, is twenty and a half inches 

 long, and the wing nine and two fifths inches ; the tail 

 has twenty feathers. 



The Canada Grouse or Spruce Partridge, T. canaden- 

 sis, Linn., of Northern North America, is over sixteen 

 inches Ipng, the wing nearly seven inches ; and the tail 

 with sixteen feathers. The feathers above are banded 

 with plumbeous ; beneath, the color is uniform black, with 

 a'pectoral white band, and white on the sides of the belly. 



Franklin's Grouse, T. Franklinii, Douglas, of the Rocky 

 Mountains and westward, is similar to the preceding one. 



The Cock of the Woods, or Capercailzie, T. iirogalhis, 

 Linn., of Europe, is larger than the Turkey, being the 

 largest of the Gallinae. 



. The Black Cock, T. tetrix, Linn., is another European 

 species, about the size of the domestic Cock. 



The Genus Centrocercus has the lower throat and sides 

 with stiffened spinous feathers, the tail excessively length- 

 ened, and cuneate. 



The Sage Cock, or Cock of the Plains, C. urophasianus, 

 Sw., of the plains of the northwest portions of America, 



