DENDRAGAPUS.— TETRASTES. 63 



Genus DENDBAGAPUS. Ambkican Capercailzies. 



Tail of eighteen feathers, subequal. Male with inflatable air-sac on each side of neok. 

 Two species. 



B. obseurus. S 19i". 9 17". The Dusky Capercailzie. Above smoky black, mixed brownish 

 buff ; below grey. Breast not baiTed. Mid tail with grey ha,nd.— Female : Breast-band buflf. 

 Tail with grey terminal band on laterals. Monogamous. Known also as "Blue Grouse," 

 "Pine Grouse." S. Rooky Mountains. Eggs (1-9 x 14) creamy buff, dotted all over chest- 

 nut-brown. '■ 



S. fuliginosus, a subspecies distinguished from D. dbsmrus by the narrower tail-bands. 

 N.W. Rocky Mountains. 



D. riehardsoni. Tail uniform black.— JeiraaZe; No grey tail-band. E. Rocky Mountains. 



Genus TYMPANUCHUS. Pinnated Grouse. 



Tail rounded, of eighteen feathers. Males have an inflatable air-sac and an elongated tuft 

 of feathers on each side of neok. Three species. 



T. americanus. i lej". 9 16". The Prairie Hen. Above barred brown and black. Below 

 barred black and white. Neck-feathers three inches long, the longer ones parallel-edged with 

 rounded tips. Chest feathers white with two brown bars. Outer tail black, tipped white. — 

 Female: Ear-tufts short and outer tail barred rufous. In migration the females only are 

 believed to change their quarters. Mississippi. Eleven to fourteen eggs, buff, faintly dotted 

 brown. 



T. cupido. The Heath-Hen, similar to T. americanus, but smaller. Longer feathers of 

 ear-tufts lanceolate and pointed. Massachusetts. 



T. pallidicincius. The Lesser Prairie-Hen. Longer feathers of ear-tufts parallel-edged 

 with square tips. Chest-feathers white with three brown bars. S.W. Kansas and Texas. 



Genus CENTROCERCTTS. Sage-Geouse. 

 Tail pheasant-like of twenty feathers. Males with an inflatable air-sac on each side of neck. 

 One species. 



C. urophasianus. 6 28" ; weight 8 lbs. 9 22" ; weight 5 lbs. Above blackish, mottled 

 buff. Breast and belly mostly black. Chin and throat white, spotted black. — Female : Chin 

 and throat white. Plains of Kooky Mountain Plateau. Pairing begins in March. Males 

 remain apart till young are grown up. Seven to nine eggs (2-2 x 1-5), olive-buff, spotted 

 chocolate. 



Genus PEDICECETES. Sharp-tailed Geousb. 



Tail of eighteen feathers, wedge-shaped. Males with an inflatable air-sac on each side of 

 neok. Two species. 



P. pAasianellus. i 16|". 9 16". The Northern S.T. Grouse. Above black, marked buff 

 and white. Breast black, with white heart-shaped patch. British America. Seven to fourteen 

 eggs (1-8 X 1-3), brown, spotted red-brown. 



P, columbianus. S 15". 9 14". The Columbian S.T. Grouse, or Prairie-Ohicken. Above 

 white and buff, marked black. Breast white, banded black. Plains of the United States. 



Genus BONASA. Euffed Grouse. 



Tarsi partially feathered. Tail of eighteen feathers. Frilled ruff on each side of neck. 

 One species. 



B. umbellus. 6 17". 9 16". The Ruffed Grouse. Plumage subject to great climatic 

 variation. Males never congregate during breeding season. E. United States. Eight to 

 fourteen eggs, pale buff, spotted pale brown. Besides this species (the lighter rufous), there 

 are — a darker rufous variety, locally known as B. sahinii, in the W. ; a lighter grey, B. umhe.l- 

 loides, in the Central Rooky Mountains ; and a darker form, with dusky breast-bars more 

 defined, from British Columbia. 



Genus TETRASTES. Hazel Hens. 



Feet only partially feathered, lower part entirely naked. Tail of sixteen feathers, wedge- 

 shaped. Three species. 



T. bonasia. S 14". 9 13". The Hazel Hen. Above grey or rufous, barred on head and 

 back with black. Breast black, margined white, and sometimes with whits spots. Chin and 



