THE AMERICAN GROUSE 



Tetraonidce. 



The differences between the American grouse and 

 quail have been pointed out in two earlier chapters, 

 but, nevertheless, may be repeated here. The feet of 

 all the grouse are covered with hair-like feathers. In 

 this group a tuft of small feathers runs forward from 

 the forehead along each side of the bill and covers the 

 nostrils, while in the quails the nostril is naked and is 

 protected by an overhanging scale. All the grouse 

 have on head over the eyes narrow patches of naked 

 skin, and most or all of them have on the sides of the 

 neck bare patches, which are often inflatable. 



The pectinations on the toes of the grouse are shed 

 annually. Mr. Manly Hardy of Brewer, Me., informs 

 me that in the ruffed grouse the whole scaly envelope 

 of the foot is shed each year. 



The grouse are usually large birds, while the quail 

 are small, and in the grouse the tail is usually long, 

 while in all the quail it is short. 



The outline drawings, showing the bill, foot, wing 

 and tail of the various grouse and quail will assist those 

 who desire to learn these characters. 



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