The Grouse and Wild Turkeys of America. 267


THE GROUSE AND WILD TURKEYS OF AMERICA.



I11 the issue of this journal for March last (p. 164) we had

occasion to notice a pamphlet, issued by the United States

Department of Agriculture, on the Quails of the United States,

with special reference to their economic value. We have now

before 11s a similar pamphlet, being Bulletin No. 24 of the U. S.

Department of Agriculture, on the Grouse and Wild Turkeys of

the United States.


A coloured plate of the Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus)

forms the frontispiece, and a process plate illustrates the Sage

Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus').


The various species of American Grouse and the Wild

Turkeys are some of the most important of game-birds, not only

on account of their value as food, but from the fact of their food

consisting, to a large extent, of noxious insects ; and the

deplorable extent to which these birds have decreased in

numbers of recent years is a subject for serious consideration.


No less than twelve species of Grouse occur within the

limits of the United States, including Alaska.


The Prairie Hen ( Tympanuchus americanus) and the

Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) are the best known of the

American Grouse, the one inhabiting the open country and the

■other the more wooded districts. Both species are becoming

scarce and their greatest enemy is man. The Ruffed Grouse is

one of the most interesting species of birds in existence, but the

average man regards it only as an object of sport and food, and

the larger “ bag ” he can make the better is he pleased. To

witness the courting of the Ruffed Grouse must be a treat never

to be forgotten by the ornithologist, it is described thus: “The

drumming is one of the most interesting and attractive of all

bird performances. It may be heard at every season, but is at its

best in spring. The cock, then in full vigor, mounts his

drumming log, droops his wings, raises his fan tail, and struts

along the log with his crest and glossy black neck tufts erect.

He begins beating his wings slowly ; then faster and faster, till

their rapid reverberation becomes a tattoo, rolling out a

challenge to rival cocks and a love call to the hens.”



