380 RASORES. 



the unexpanded leaf-buds of trees, upon grains, grass, seed, and 

 pulse. The flesh of all of these birds is much esteemed for its 

 tenderness and flavor. 



The largest birds of this family, are included in the genus 

 Tetrao. 



The CAPERCAILLIE, or COCK OF THE WOOD, T. urogallus, (Gr. 

 oura, a tail; gallus, a cock,) is common in most parts of North- 

 ern Europe. The male is a large bird, almost equaling a Tur- 

 key in size, but the female is considerably smaller. In the 

 early spring, the male bird is noted for his "play," in which his 

 movements are "much like those of an angry Turkey-cock, and 

 he utters a call somewhat resembling peller, peller, peller ; these 

 sounds he repeats at some little intervals, but as he proceeds, they 

 become increasingly rapid, until after a minute or so, he makes 

 a sort of gulp in his throat, and ends with sucking in, as it 

 were, his breath." The nest is made on the ground, and con- 

 tains from six to twelve eggs. Mr. Yarrell gives the length of 

 a specimen of this bird, as three feet four in.ches. The general 

 plumage is such a blending of black and white, as to give it a 

 gray hue. This bird feeds upon berries and young shoots. 



The COMMON PARTRIDGE, or RUFFED GROUSE, T. umlellus, 

 (Lat. a small tuft,) is found only on this Continent, ranging as 

 far South as Mexico. Its form is bulky, aid it has a slight crest. 

 (Plate X. fig. 6a.) The plumage is mottled with reddish and 

 dusky brown. The length is eighteen inches. The Partridge is 

 remarkable for producing a drumming noise, chiefly in the spring, 

 but occasionally at other seasons. 



The COCK OF THE PLAINS, or PHEASANT-TAILED GROUSE, T. 

 urophasianus, (Gr. oura, a tail ; phasianos, a pheasant,) is found 

 in the Rocky Mountains, and in size not much less than a Tur- 

 key, being thirty inches in length. On each side of the lower 

 part of the neck in front, this bird has a large bare space, capable 

 of being inflated into a hemispherical sac. 



The PINNATED GROUSE, also known as the Prairie-Hen, or 

 Heath-Hen, T. cupido, is another species, which in its voice, 

 manners and peculiarity of plumage, is perhaps the most singu- 

 lar, and in its flesh, the most excellent of the tribe found in the 

 United States. It is nineteen inches in length. 



The QUAILS, Ortyx, (Gr. ortux, a quail,) in the Southern and 

 Western parts of the Union, called Partridges, are also included 

 in the present family. 



The COMMON AMERICAN QUAIL, O. or Perdix, (Lat. partridge,) 

 Virginiana, is found abundantly from Texas to Massachusetts. 



