SPOTTED GROUSE. 389 
fied by Buffon, Forster, and others; and in their decision 
Gmelin, Latham, and all subsequent writers, have acquiesced. 
Both sexes were tolerably well figured by Buffon, as they had 
also been previously by Edwards; but we feel justified in say- 
ing that none of their plates will bear a comparison with the 
present. 
The spotted grouse is well characterised by its much rounded 
tail, of but sixteen broad and rounded feathers, and may be 
at once distinguished from all others by the large and 
conspicuous white spots ornamenting the breast, flanks, and 
under tail-coverts. It has been inaccurately compared with 
the European Tetrao bonasia, from which it differs very 
materially, not even being of the same subgenus, and 
approaching nearer, if indeed it can be compared with any, to 
the Tetrao urogallus. 
This bird is common at Hudson’s Bay throughout the year, 
there frequenting plains and low grounds, though in other 
parts of America it is found on mountains, even of great 
elevation. It inhabits Canada in winter, and was seen by 
Vieillot in great numbers during the month of October in 
Nova Scotia. Lewis and Clark met with it on the elevated 
range of the Rocky Mountains, and brought back from their 
western expedition a male specimen, now deposited in the 
Philadelphia Museum, where it has been long exhibited under 
the name of Louisiana grouse. This, as truly observed by 
Say, first entitled it to rank among the birds of the United 
of the old continent, which inhabits the greater part of Scandinavia, 
Kamtschatka, Greenland, Iceland, and the valleys of the Alps. 
. L. rupestris.—Rock grouse.—Closely allied, and long confused with L. 
mutus ; inhabits Melville Peninsula, and the barren grounds, and descends 
along the coast of Hudson’s Bay, as far as lat. 58 degs.; found on the 
Rocky Mountains as far south as lat. 55 degs. 
. L. leucurus, Swain.—White-tailed grouse.—Hyeme albus: cstate varie- 
gatus, rectricibus semper albis.—This species is first described and figured 
in the ‘‘ Northern Zoology.” The specimens were killed on the Rocky 
Mountains, and it is said to inhabit the snowy peaks near the mouth of 
the Columbia. Its summer dress is intermediate between LZ. mutus and 
rupestris, and it is at once distinguished from all the others by its smaller 
size aud the pure white colour of the tail at all seasons.—ED. 
QO 
Ho 
