350 CUPIDONA CUP1DO. 



Members of this genus inhabit prairie lands or open country, seldom, if, ever, being found in the woods. The tail is 

 short nnd the wings are lung. The sterno-trachealis is large but there are no other laryngeal muscles. Tympanifonn mem- 

 branes, present but short, measuring '25, and the bronchial tubes beneath are connected by a muscle. Os transversals, 

 present and supports a semilunar membrane. Tarsus, completely feathered. Feathers on side of neck, elongated. Head, 

 crested. 



CUPIDONA CUPIDO. 

 Prairie Grouse. 



Cupidona cupido BAIRD, Birds N. A.; 1858, 628. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. On. Form, robust. Size, large. Sternum, stout. Terminal expansion of scapula, large and rounded. Coeca, 

 20 00 long, with the blind end pointed. Tongue, short, thick, fleshy, and triangular in form, with the tip pointed. There 

 is a tuft of lung, lanceolate feathers on each side of neck, beneath which is a naked space. 



Cilor. Adult male. Above, dark-brown, becoming lighter on wings, barred, excepting on inner webs of primaries 

 and on tail, with yellowish-red and yellowish-white. Beneath, white, becoming buffy on throat, sides, and flanks, finely 

 barred, excepting on throat, with dark-brown. Line from gape, passing beneath eye, dark-brown, beneath which, along 

 cheeks, isa line of spots of the same color. There are concealed bars of chestnut across upper breast. The elongated neck 

 feathers are dark-brown, with yellowish-white centers which are edged above with yellowish-red. 



Adult female. Similar to the male but the neck tufts are not as long nor as dark and the tail is barred. Iris, bill, and 

 feet, dark-brown in all stages. Naked space over eye and on neck, orange. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens vary but little in plumage, occasionally the chestnut barring on the breast will be quite conspicuous. This 

 species appears to be subject to a peculiar kind of albinoism, being creamy-white, with the darker markings showing indis- 

 tinctly. Known form all others by the short tail and elongated tuft of lanceolate feathers on neck. Distributed, at present, 

 on the Western plains, east of the Rooky Mountains, in favorable localities in the states that border the Mississippi Rivei 

 on the east, south to Louisiana, and occasionally eastward to Pennsylvania; rare on Naushon Island, Massachusetts. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from the West. Length, 18'75; stretch, 29'00; wing, 8-75; tail, 4'12; bill, '70; 

 tarsus, 1-95. Longest specimen, 19'00; greatest extent of wing, SO'OO; longest wing, 9'00: tail. 4'25; bill, '75; tarsus, 

 2 10. Shortest specimen, 17'50; smallest extent of wing, 28'00; shortest wing, 8-50; tail, 4'00; bill, '65; tarsus, 1-75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in hollows scratched in the soil, composed of grass, leaves, weeds, or any other convenient 

 material. 



Eays, from eight to fifteen in number, rather oval in form, varying from dirty white to greenish-yellow in color, often 

 dotted finely with reddish-yellow. Dimensions from l'20x 1'60 to l'30x 1'74. 



HABITS. 



There is no doubt but that prior to the settlement of this country and for some time 

 after the advent of the Whites, the Prairie Grouse had an extensive range, being found 

 throughout New England, the Middle States, and the western of the Southern States. As 

 these fine Grouse are unfortunate enough to be excellent eating, they were soon extermi- 

 nated in the more settled districts. Yet they held their own much longer than one would 

 suppose possible under the circumstances, and in 1834, Audubon says, "On the eastern 

 declivities of our Atlantic coast, the districts in which the Pinnated Grouse are still to be 

 met with, are some portions of the State of New Jersey, the 'brushy' plains of Long Island, 

 Martha's Vineyard, the Elizabeth Islands, Mount Desert Island in the State of Maine, and 

 a certain tract of Barreny country in the latter State, lying not far from the famed Mar's 

 Hill." 



