IgS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA, 



of 1892-93 being very severe a great number died. In the spring 

 of 1893 I only saw one at Victoria, but at Sooke, in the autumn 

 of that year, I saw many fine birds, and learned from the resi- 

 dents that they sheltered during the severe weather under the 

 broom {Sarothamnus scoparius), which grew in abundance on Mr. J. 

 Mpore's farm, and lived on the seeds of the broom. {Spread- 

 borough). 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



One pair of fine birds, taken on Vancouver Island, and pre- 

 sented to the Museum by Mr. John Fannin. Three eggs taken 

 near Victoria by the Rev. George Taylor. 



CVI. DEWDRAGAPUS Elliot. 1864. 



297. Dusky Grouse. 



Dendragapus obscurus (Say) Elliot. i864. 



We have no specimens of this Grouse in our collections, nor 

 are we sure that this form occurs in Canada. It is more than 

 probable, however, that it is partly the Blue Grouse of southwest- 

 ern British Columbia. In the United States it has been taken in 

 Montana and Idaho and hence may cross the British Columbia 

 boundary. 



. 297a. Sooty Grouse. 



Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus Ridgw. 18B5. 



Bischoff secured seven of these birds in the vicinity of Sitka, and 

 Hartlaub records it from Portage Bay. There is no doubt that 

 this bird occurs considerably farther north than Sitka along the 

 coast region. {Nelson.) On my arrival on the coast of British 

 Columbia, in the month of April, 1889, the calls of this species 

 could be heard nearly throughout the day. {Streator.) West of 

 the Coast Range, in British Columbia, including all the larger 

 islands, an abundant resident. {Fanning Abundant on the western 

 slope of the Coast Range, B. C. {Brooks) Common in all parts 

 of Vancouver Island ; begins to call about April ist ; quite com- 

 mon at Hastings, B.C., in April, 1889, when it made the woods 

 resound with its almost constant calls. {Spreadborough.) 



