284 ORNITHOLOGY. 



to the same variations of plumage on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, 

 which have been observed on the Atlantic coast ; some specimens 

 have the rump and tail graj, while others have those parts of a rich 

 ferruginous-brown." 



2. Tetrao obscurus, Sa//. — The Blue Grouse. The Dusky Grouse. 



Tctrao olscurus, Say, Long's Exp. II, p. 14 (1823). 



Tetrao Ekhardsoiiii, DouG. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XVI, p. 141 (1828). 



Bonap. Am. Orn. Ill, Plate XVIII; Rich. & Sw. Faun. Bor. Am. 

 Birds, Plate LIX, LX ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLXI ; Oct. ed. V, 

 Plate CCXCV. 



This is strictly a western species, or, perhaps more properly, north- 

 western, being best known as a bird of Oregon. Several specimens 

 are in the collection of the Expedition, in which, however, we observe 

 no characters other than have been given by previous writers. 



Under date of 27tli of May, at Puget's Sound, Oregon, we find in 

 Dr. Pickering's Journal, the following memorandum : 



" The Dusky Grouse, Tetrao obscurus, is not uncommon, and is 

 mostly seen in the spruce trees. Loose skin on the side of the neck 

 in the male, yellow. The nest is said to have been found on the 

 ground, by the side of a small stream, but I did not see the eggs." 



Mr. Peale observes : 



" Common in Oregon, wherever coniferous evergreens occur, from 

 the Rocky Mountains to the coast, and from Puget's Sound to the 

 northern confines of California, but in this region is not so abundant 

 south of the Umpqua River." 



3. Tetrao phasianellus, Linnaeus. — The Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



Tetrao phasianellus, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 273 (1766). 



Tetrao urophasianellus, Doug. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XVI, p. 136 (1828). 



Bonap. Am. Orn. Ill, Plate XIX; Aud. B. of Am. Plate 

 CCCLXXXII ; Oct. ed. V, Plate CCXCVIII. 



