GAME-BIRDS. 33 



(173), from the prairies of the United States, remarkable for the long 

 tuft of feathers on each side of the neck in the male, and the Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse [Pedioecetes phasianellus) (175), from the wooded districts and tun- 

 dras that border the British North-American lakes, are both well known 

 American game-birds, and are occasionally forwarded in a frozen state 

 to the London market. Another handsome North-American species is 

 the Ruffed Grouse {Bonasa umhellus) (177), with a frilled ruffle of 

 fan-shaped feathers on each side of the neck. Closely allied we have 

 the Hazel-hens (Tetrastes)^ of which two or perhaps three species are 

 known from Europe and Northern and Central Asia. The common 

 Hazel-hen or Gelinotte {T. bonasia) (178), which inhabits the lower 

 pine-forests and birch-woods of the mountainous districts of Europe and 

 North and Central Asia, is greatly esteemed as an article of food, its 

 flesh being white and delicate, and large numbers are frozen and imported 

 from Scandinavia and Russia to the London market. Other well-known 

 North American genera are the American Capercaillies or Dusky 

 Grouse [Dendragapus) (171) and the Canadian Grouse [Canachites) 

 (172), found in the dense thickets and evergreen woods of the middle 

 and higher mountain-ranges. 



The two species of Black Grouse exhibited are the only known 

 members of the genus Lyrurus. Though evidently closely allied, a 

 remarkable difference is presented in their life-history. In the male of 

 the common Black Grouse (L. tetrix) (179) the young bird attains the 

 black plumage of the adult more or less perfectly at the first autumn- 

 moult, only a few of the feathers of the back retaining a mottled brown 

 appearance. The young male of the Caucasian Black Grouse 

 {L. mlokosiewiczi) (180) assumes a barred plumage at the first autumn 

 moult, most nearly resembling that of the adult female, and this is 

 retained till the second moult or possibly longer, the young male 

 exhibited having been shot on the 14th of May. 



During the heavy autumn-moult, which takes place in July and 

 August, the old males of the common Black Grouse, commonly called 

 Black Cock, are entirely devoid of tails and generally incapable of flying 

 more than a few yards at most. At this season a temporary plumage like 

 that of the female (Grey Hen) clothes the head and neck, and the throat 

 becomes more or less white. This intermediate plumage is no doubt pro- 

 tective, for the black head and neck of the male are conspicuous objects, 

 while the rufous-buff feathers with their black bars and marks harmonise 

 perfectly with the surrounding objects and enable the defenceless birds to 

 escape observation. The barred feathers of the head and neck are not 

 cast and replaced by black ones till the rest of the plumage has been 

 renewed, and the bird is once more able to fly. 



Interesting wild hybrids between Black Grouse and Red Grouse 



p 



[Case 18.] 



