178 



GROUSK, BOIi-VVIllTES, ETC. 



ORDER GALLIXiE. GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



Family Tetraonid^. Grouse, Bob-whites, etc. 



Of the two hundred species contained in tliis fjiinlly, one hundred 

 belong in the subfamily Pi'rdiciii(e or Old-World Partridges and 

 C^uails, sixty in the subfamily Odontophorina' or New-World Par- 

 tridges and Bob-whites, and twenty-five in the subfamily TttraonincB 

 or Grouse, inhabiting the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. 

 Generally speaking, these birds are non-migratory, though there are 

 some striking exceptions among the IVrdicinm. After the nesting 

 season they commonly gather in "coveys" or bevies, usually composed 

 of the members of but one family. In some species these bevies unite 

 or "pack," forming large Hocks. As a rule, they are terrestrial, but 

 may take to trees when flushed, v/hile some species habitually call and 

 feed in trees. They are game birds par excellmre, and, trusting to 

 the concealment afforded by their dull colors, attempt to avoid detec- 

 tion by hiding rather than by flying, or, in sportsman's [ihruseology, 

 " lie well to a dog." Their flight is rapid and accom|)anied by a start- 

 ling whin; caused by the quick strokes of their small, concave, stiff- 

 feathered wings. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Tiirsi V)iire 289. Bob-wmite. 280a. Fi.oimoa Bon-wiiiTE. 



£. Upper tliird or liulf of tarsi feathered. 



.".00. Ri'KKEi) (iKorsE. 300(1. Canada Rcffed Guoi'se. 

 C. Tarsi ciiitirely feiitlu'reil, toes bare. 



a. Witli bunche.s of elonnfated, stiffened feathers spriniifinir from eitlier side 

 oftlieneek 305. Prairie Hen. 30ti. Heath Hen. 



b. Feathers of neek normal. 



i'. Outer web of primaries spotted with white. 



308ft. PlJAIRIE SuARr-TAILEO TiUorsE. 



/A Priniarios not spotted witli wliite 20H, Canai a Guovse. 



/). Tansi and toes entirely featliered 301. Ptaumkian and races. 



889. Colinusvirglnianus( Z/////.). Bok-wiiite; (iiAu. ; pAUTiMonE. 

 Ad. $ ill wiiitiV. — H|>i)er i)arts varyin<^ from reddlsli brown to eliestiiut ; in- 

 terscapulars with broken and sometimes complete black bars; inner vane 

 of tcrtials widely maririned with cream-biilT: rump grayish brown, finely 

 mottletl. and witli a few streaks of lilaekisli ; tail asliy trray, the inner feath- 

 ei-s finely mottled with huffy; front of the crown, a band from the bill to be- 

 neath the eye, and a band en the upjM'r l)reast black ; throat and a broad lino 

 from the bill over tlie eye white; sides rufous-chestnut, margined with black 

 and white; lower breast and belly white barred with black. Ad. 9 in win- 

 ter. — Similar, but the throat and line over the eye, forehead, and lores pale 

 ociiract'ous-buff; little or no black on the upper breast. Summer v\iin\\Ac» 



