THE HEATH HEN. 93 



33. Tympanuchus cupido (LixXn^us). 



HEATH HEN. 



Tetrao cupido Linn^xjs, Systema Naturae, ed. 10, i, 1758, 160. 



lympanuchus cupido Ridgway, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, viii, 1885, 355. 

 (B 464, part; 384, part; R 477, part; C 563, part; U 306.) 



Geographical range: Island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. 



The breediiig range of the Heath Hen is, at present, Hmited to the island 

 of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where these birds are strictly protected. 



Mr. William Brewster says: "They were formerly found at various points 

 in eastern Massachusetts, southern Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey, and 

 Pennsylvania; perhaps also southern New England, and the Middle States 

 generally. A woodland species, inhabiting scrubby tracts of oak and pine. 

 * * * The general differences between this bird and its Western represent- 

 ative, T. americcmus, are difficult of adequate definition, for the reason that they 

 consist largely in shades of color rather than in markings. Its small size, short 

 tarsus, acutely lance-pointed feathers of the neck-tufts, white-tipped scapulars, 

 general reddish coloration above and restricted light markings beneath, are, 

 however, readily appreciable and apparently constant characters. * * * 



"The Heath Hen (I use the vernacular name by which it was known to 

 our forefathers) is still common on Martha's Vineyard, where it is mainly, if not 

 exclusively, confined to the woods, haunting oak scrub by preference and feed- 

 ing largely on acorns. Being strictly protected by law, but few are probably 

 killed. I am told by one of the Boston marketmen, however, that he has had 

 as many as twenty from the Vineyard in a single season. He also says that 

 they average nearly a pound less in weight than Western specimens, and on 

 this account do not sell as readily. 



"The bird is not found on the neighboring island of Naushon, despite 

 statements by recent writers to that effect, nor is there any good evidence 

 that it ever occurred there. There is also no reason to believe that the 

 stock on Martha's Vineyard has been vitiated by the introduction of West- 

 ern birds. It is simply the last remnant of a once more or less widely 

 distributed race, preserved in this limited area partly by accident, partly 

 by care. According to the best testimony available the colony is in no 

 present danger of extinction."^ 



From a more recent article on this species published by Mr. Brewster, 

 based on information gathered by him during- a visit to Martha's Vineyard 

 in Jnly, 1890, I extract the following: "Throughout Martha's Vineyard the 

 Heath Hen (locally pronounced heth'n, as this Grouse is universally called) 

 is well known to almost every one. Even in such seaport towns as Cottage 

 City and Edgartown most of the people have at least heard of it, and in 



'Auk, Vol. II, 1885, pp. 82-84. 



