416 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Canaoe canadensis, var. canadensis, Lixn. 



8PBUCS ?ABTBIDGB; CANADA OBOUSB. 



Teirao canatUnsis, LiNV. Syat. Nat. I, 17. >, 150. — FoitsrKii, Phil. Trans. l^XII, 1772, 

 389. — Saiiine, ZoiJl. Ajip. Frniiklin's K.xpcd. G83. — UiiNAi-. Ainer. Orii. 111,1830, 

 pi. xxi, f. 2, ?.— III. Am. I'liil. Tmiis. Ill, N. S. 1830, 391. — Iticil. F. Hor. Aiiier. 

 II, 1831, 34ti, pi. I.\ii, 9.— NiTTALL, Mini. I, 1832, 667. -All). Oiii. Hiog. 

 II, 1831, 437 ; V, 1839, 563, pi. elxxvi. — In. IJiiils Aiiiir. V, 1842, 83, \<\. cclxciv. 

 — |{.viRn, lJird.s N. Am. 1858, 622. — Maynaku, U. E. Mass. 1870, 138 (Massnchu- 

 sotts). — C01TK.S, P. A. N. S. 1801, 226. — CiiiAY, Cut. Brit. Miis. 1867, 86. — Dall 

 & Haxsisteu, Tr. C'liicngo Ac. I, 1869, 287. — Fishcii, Abh. Nat. Verz. Ill, 1872,61. 

 Canacc canndeii.t, , Heicu. Av. Syst. Nat. 1851, p. xxix. (Type, Bd.NAr. Coinptcs 

 Keiulu.s, XLV, 1857, 428. — Elliot, P. A. N. S. 1864, 23. — In. Moiiog. Tctraon. pi. 

 Tclnw canacc, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 275. Black Spotted Healhcock, KuwAiius, 

 Glean, pi. uxviii. Spoiled Orouae, Pennant. 



Sp. Char. Tall of sixteen feathers. Above black. Featlier.? above di.stinctly banded 

 with |i1uiii1h!0us; Ijeneuth uiiiforin black, -with a ])ectoral band of while, and white on the 

 sides of the belly. Chin and throat above, black. Tail with a broad brownish-orange 

 terminal band. Length, 10.20; wing, 6.70; tail, .'J.44. 



Female smaller, but somewhat similar ; the black bars al)ove broader, the inner gray bars 

 of each feather, including the t.ail, replaced by broader ones of brownisli-oiange. The 

 inider parts have the feathers black, barred with the brownish-orange, whi(;li, on the tips 

 of the belly-feather.'!, is pure white. The clear continuous black of the head and breast 

 is wanting. The scapulars, greater coverts, and sides are streaked as in the male. 



A female (No. .'50.13G, G. A. Boardman) from Maine differs from the above description 

 in having the ground of the plumage a bright orange-rufous, the distinct bars of which 

 are broader than the black ones ; this is probably an autumnal bird, nnd represents the 

 peculiar plumage of that .season. 



Milieu vary, iudividu.ally, in the extent or uniformity of the black of the breast. 



Siieoiinens from Alaska (Xiilato, Xodiak, etc.), Red River, Liard's River and Fort Liard, 

 Hudson's Bay Territory, Canada, and Maine, appear to be absolutely identical. 



The young in downy state are pale bufT-yellow ; the head aViove, with the back and 

 wings, pale fulvous; a black stripe on side of head (from bill to end of auriculars), two 

 spots on crown, and transverse crescentic spots on back and wings, black. 



Hab. Spruce forests and swamps of the Northern United States to the Arctic .seas ; 

 west nearly to Rooky Mountains. 



Hahits. This bird, variously known as the Spruce or Wood Partridge, 

 Canada, Black, or S]x)tted Grouse, is found, in favorable localities, from the 

 ^'ortlieru United States as far north as the woods extend, to the Arctic 

 Ocean, l)einjf found, even in midwinter, nearly to the 70th parallel. Sir Jolin 

 Iiichardson found all the thick and swampy black-spruce forests l)etween 

 Canada and the Arctic Sea abounding with this species. In winter it de- 

 scends into Maine, Northern New York, and Michigan. Its migrations are, 

 however, only ]>artial, as it is found in tlie severest weather of midwinter, in 

 considemble numbers, as far north as latitude 67". A(!cording to Mr. Doug- 

 las, west of the liocky Motintains it is nqdaced by the 7\ frankUuL This 

 bird is said to percli iu trees, in flocks of eight or ten, and is so stupid that 



