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TETRAO CUPIDO— LINN. 



PINNATED GROUSE. 



Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao cupido, W1I3. Amer. Orn. 



Tetrao cupido, Bonap. Syn. 



Pinnated Grouse, Nutt. Man. 



Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao cupido, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Male with tufts of elongated feathers on the 

 sides of the neck, upper parts transversely barred with blackish-brown 

 and yellowish-red ; lower parts grayish-white, transversely barred 

 with dull reddish-brown. Female with but a slight trace of the 

 elongated tufts so conspicuous in the male. Adult male with the 

 head slightly crested ; on either side of the neck a tuft of rather 

 stiff' feathers, under which lie those orange-colored sacks — which, 

 when inflated, are so conspicuous in the male ; upper parts blackish 

 brown, transversely marked with pale reddish-brown ; tail plain 

 brown, short and rounded, tipped with white ; throat pale yellow- 

 ish white, spotted with pale reddish-brown and dusky ; legs covered 

 down to the toes with hairy feathers. Female smaller than the 

 male ; the plumage duller ; the tail irregularly barred with dull 

 reddish-white and more broadly tipped. Length eighteen inches, 

 wing eight and a quarter. 



On Long Island the " Prairie Hen" is very nearly if not entirely 

 extinct. Thirty years ago, it was quite abundant on the brushy 

 plains in Suffolk county, which tract of country is well adapted to 

 its habits — but being a favorite bird with sportsmen, as well as 

 commanding a high price in the New York markets, it has been 

 pursued, as a matter of pleasure and profit, until now it is very 

 doubtful if a brace can be found on the Island. On a recent ex- 

 cursion over its former favorite haunts, I could find no trace of it. 

 In conversation with several of the elder residents, they spoke of 



