FRANKLIN'S GROUSE. 57 



southern limit at about latitude 45°. Eastward it ranges through the higher 

 mountains of northern and central Idaho, and northwestern Montana to the 

 Belt range. In Alaska, north of latitude 60°, it is replaced by Dendragapus 

 canadensis, wliich likewise reaches the coast here, and the present species occu- 

 pies but a comparatively small portion of this extensive territory. Within the 

 United States, Franklin's Grouse is perhaps most common in suitable localities 

 throughout northern and central Idaho, in the almost impenetrable and densely 

 timbered mountain ranges bordering the headwaters of the north aiid south 

 forks of the Clearwater, and the tributaries of the Salmon River. Throughout 

 this region this species is known as the "Fool Hen;" an eminently proper and 

 well-deserved name, it being entirely unsuspicious, aUowing- itself frequently 

 to be knocked off the trees with sticks or stones, and it can often be caught 

 by hand. 



My friend. Dr. T. E. Wilcox, U. S. Army, says: "The cocks of this species 

 are fearless and pugnacious, refusing to flee from man, and even attacking an 

 intruder. I have been able to get within 3 or 4 feet before they would hop 

 to another branch or twig. I always found them near running water or along 

 the borders of high marshes. Its flight is not noisy like that of other Grouse 

 or Partridges." 



Mr. George Bird Grinnell says: "When alarmed or uneasy, Franklin's 

 Grouse, as well as the Dusky Grouse, has the habit of erecting the feathers of 

 the neck just below the head. This is done very commonly, and gives the bird 

 a very odd appearance. It is analogous to the habit of the Ruffed Grouse, 

 which, under the influence of certain emotions, erects the black ruff', and as 

 does the Pinnated Grouse its little falciform feathers on the neck." 



While stationed at Fort Lapwai, Idaho, from 1868 to 1871, I saw these 

 birds on sevei'al occasions, and learned a good, deal about them from pack- 

 ers and trappers. In those days the town of Lewiston, situated at the junc- 

 tion of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, 11 miles west of Fort Lapwai, 

 was the main supply depot for the various mining camps in northern Idaho, 

 and every pound of freight for the mines had to be carried there on pack 

 mules. The main trails to Oro Fino, Florence, and Warrens, the three 

 principal mining centers at that time, passed right thi'ough the garrison, and 

 it was no unusual sight for a half dozeu pack trains, nun^bering a couple of 

 hundi-ed mules, to pass by there in a day. The route followed by these 

 trains passed, for a portion of the way at least, over as rough and rugged a 

 country as can be found anywhere, up one mountain and down another; 

 some places being so rocky and steep that it seemed impossible for the 

 heavily laden mnles to keep their footing, and the underbrush so dense and 

 thick on either side that it was almost impenetrable. The few narrow moun- 

 tain valleys met with were no better. The melting of the deep snows ren- 

 dered them nearly bottomless during the greater portion of the summer, 

 making them a shaking, trembling quagmire in which tlie poor mules floun- 

 dered up to their bellies in mud and mire. If you desired to become 



