The Dusky Grouse 



Authorities. — Sclater (Tetrao obscurus), Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1858, p. I, 

 part (Yosemite Valley) ; Belding, Zoe, vol. iii., 1892, p. 232 (food); Muir, Our National 

 Parks, 1901, p. 216 (habits); Chapman, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. xx., 1904, 

 p. 159 (orig. desc. ; type locality, Echo, El Dorado Co.). 



Taken in Eastern Washington 



Photo by W. B. Wright 



SOOTY GROUSE ON NEST 



ALTHOUGH RATED AS D. O. fuliginoSUS , THIS BORDERLINE SPECIMEN IS SCARCELY DISTINGUISHABLE IN A PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE 



CALIFORNIA BIRD, D. o. sierra. 



THE "BLUE" Grouse, "Wood Grouse," or "Mountain" Grouse, in 

 some one of its geographical races, is found throughout the heavily timbered 

 areas of the West, ranging from sea-level to timberline, according to the 

 degree of local humidity. It has a strong preference for fir (or spruce) 

 timber, on account of the density of cover offered ; and its range in Cali- 

 fornia is determined chiefly, though not entirely, by this factor. And 

 of all fir trees the Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia), miscalled "Oregon 

 Pine" by our local trade, is the prime favorite. In the sheltering branches 

 of this tree the grouse takes refuge in time of danger; from its commanding 

 elevation he most frequently sends forth the challenges of springtime; 

 and in its somber depths he hides himself throughout the winter season. 



The Blue Grouse is by nature one of the most confiding of fowls. 

 If it were not for the discipline of gun-fire, now three-quarters of a cen- 



1591 



