206 
NEW-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
entirely extirpated. The specimen figured in the plate, was one which I had obtained from 
Long island in 1840, and which was probably the last of his race in that district. It is still 
found in a few districts of the Atlantic States, in a few of the islands on the coast of Massa¬ 
chusetts, and the mountainous regions of Pennsylvania. They are also said to have been 
seen recently at Schooley’s mountain in New-Jersey, and a few are still said to linger about 
Orange county in this State. They are so readily killed, that they soon disappear as the 
country becomes settled. The female builds her nest on the ground, depositing from eight 
to twelve eggs of a dull brown color, upon which she sets eighteen or nineteen days. The 
Grouse is easily tamed, and, with a little care, might soon be domesticated. It feeds on 
buds and berries. Its geographical range is from Texas to Maine, and it is common through 
the regions west of the Mississippi. 
THE SPRUCE GROUSE. 
Tethao canadensis. 
PLATE LXXVI. FIG. 173. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Tetrao canadensis. Linn.eus, Syst. Nat. Vol. ], p.274. Pennant, Arct. Zool. 182 sp. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. 
N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 127. In. Am. Orn. Vol. 3, pi. 20. 
T. id. et franlclini. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, pp. 346, 348. 
T. id., Spotted Grouse. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 667. 
T. id., Spotted ox Canada Grouse. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 5, p. 83, pi. 294. 
Characteristics. Subcrested. Darkish, spotted with white. Tail slightly rounded, with 
the tips brownish red, or a broad terminal band. Throat and breast 
deep black. Female, duller; the throat and breast rufous, barred witli 
black. Length, 15 ’0. 
Description. Feet short, and feathered to the toes, which are pectinate: middle toe 
longest. Third quill longest; the first very short. The crest formed by a number of rather 
elongated feathers. 
Color. Above brownish black, barred with blackish ; the membrane above the eyes scarlet. 
Quills and larger coverts blackish brown. Tail-coverts blackish, sprinkled with black and 
spotted with white ; feathers of the tail dusky, and with a reddish terminal band. Throat and 
breast black, irregularly spotted with white. Belly and sides blackish, mottled with rufous 
and whitish. Female, smaller, with the colors not so bright; the scarlet membrane over the 
eyes smaller ; the head, neck and breast reddish, broadly barred with black. There is much 
variety in the markings, scarcely any two resembling each other. 
Length, 15*0- 15‘5. 
