THE DUSKY GROUSE 109 



The following subspecies, closely related to the typical 

 Ruffed Grouse, are found in North America: 



The Oregon, or Sabine's Grouse, is found on the mountains 

 of the Pacific coast, west of the Coast Range, from northern 

 British Columbia to California. This species possesses rich 

 red plumage, and is quite beautiful. 



The Canadian Ruffed Grouse belongs to Canada and Maine, 

 but in the Northwest it ranges south of the international 

 boundary. The Gray Ruffed Grouse inhabits the Rocky Moun- 

 tains from the Yukon to Colorado. 



The Dusky Grouse^ is a conspicuous type which in- 

 habits the Rocky Mountains from Idaho and Montana to 

 Arizona. Its other names are Blue, Pine, and Gray Grouse, 

 and also Pine-Hen. I first saw it alive in the Shoshone 

 Mountains, while skirting a very steep mountain side in 

 search of mountain sheep. The stunted pines that struggle 

 with the slide-rock for existence were not more than thirty 

 feet high, but in them perched, dangerously near the ground, 

 this handsome slaty-blue Grouse. Its nearest neighbors were 

 the mountain sheep, elk, magpie, Clarke's nutcracker, and 

 golden eagle. 



This fine bird ranges up to timber-line, but loves rough 

 mountain sides that are partially covered with pines, cedars 

 and firs. It usually lives alone, but sometimes forms very 

 small flocks. The crop of a specimen which I shot was stuffed 

 full of fresh, green pine needles, some of them two inches long. 

 At that time, however, the snow was a foot deep. 



' Den-drag' a-pus oh-scu'rus. Average length of male, about 21 inches; female, 

 18 inches. 



