147 



THE CANADIAN GROUSE. 



Tetrao Canadensis. LINNAEUS. 

 PLATE XV." 



Tetrao Canadensis, Bonaparte's Continuation. Variety, 

 North. ZooL ii. pi. 61. 



THE figure of this species is taken from a speci- 

 men in the Edinburgh Museum, and from the dis- 

 tribution of the colouring, strongly resembles the 

 markings of the variety dedicated to Captain Frank- 

 lin as distinct. Among several of the lesser grouse, 

 there is a certain variety in the tints and distribution 

 of the plumage ; and during the breeding season, and 

 at the different ages, these become very different in- 

 deed. On these accounts, we do not consider that 

 sufficiently distinctive marks have yet been assigned 

 to the birds which have been designated T* Cana- 

 densis and Franklinii. 



The entire length is about seventeen inches. It 

 is common in Hudson's Bay through the whole year. 

 It inhabits Canada in winter, and abounds on the 

 Rocky Mountains. " The favourite haunts of the 

 spotted or Canada Grouse," writes Bonaparte, " are 

 pine woods and dark cedar swamps, in winter re- 

 sorting to the deep forests of spruce, to feed on the 

 tops and leaves of these evergreens, as well as on 

 the seeds contained in their cones, and upon juniper 

 berries. Hence their flesh, though at all times good, 



* Tliis Plate comes before Plate XIV. which faces p. 127. 



