A VES— PARTRIDGE. 



605 



states, though numerous in high northern latitudes. It inhabits the unculti- 

 vated lands near the southern parts of Hudson's Bay. It is sometimes found 

 near Lake Superior in the spring. 



The sharp-tailed grouse is very shy and solitary in summer, but lives in 

 flocks during winter. Their favorite places of resort are the juniper plains, 

 where the buds of juniper bushes constitute their favorite food. They fre- 

 quent the woods as well as the plains; sometimes feeding on berries, and 

 sometimes on the tops of evergreen, poplar, and birch trees. They breed on 

 the ground, near low bushes; the nest is composed of grass and lined with 

 feathers. Their flesh is excellent eating. One of these birds will some- 

 times weigh upwards of two pounds. The general color of the plumage is 

 a mixture of white and rusty on a glossy blackish ground; the feathers of 

 the head and neck are tipped with white. 



The other American birds of this family are, the spotted grouse, and the 

 cock of the plains. 



THE PARTRIDGE. 1 





r "V^^M^^-^h^ ^ ^<^' ■■'::' ^:.v; 



This bird is about thirteen inches in length. The general color of its 

 plumage is brown and ash, elegantly mixed with black ; each feather is 

 streaked down the middle with butf color ; the sides of the head are tawny; 

 the eyes are hazel, and under each eye there is a small saffron-colored spot, 



• Perdix cinerea, Lath. The genus pcrdLv, has the bill short, compressed, stout, base 

 naked ; upper mandible arched, convex, strongly curved towards the tip ; nostrils ba^al, 

 lateral, half closed by an arched and n:\kcd menibraiie; the three anterior toes united by 

 membranes to the first joint ; tail composed of eighteen, or of fourteen feathers, short, 

 rounded and slanting downwards ; wings short. 



51# 



