LONG-TAILED GROUS. 



285 



webs ; secondaries brown, striped on the outer 

 edge, and tipped with white : rump hoary : tail 

 short, consisting of eighteen feathers ; the two 

 middle ones longer than the rest, and spotted with 

 testaceous ; the rest of them pale brown, tipped 

 with white : the breast and belly whitish, marked 

 with testaceous cordiform spots, deepest on the 

 belly. The sexes differ but little from each other, 

 the principal distinction being in the male having 

 the naked space over the eyes more determined 

 and brighter. 



These birds inhabit the mountainous parts of 

 the country about Hudson's Bay : they feed upon 

 juniper berries and buds : they associate in small 

 flocks, and lay their eggs, which vary from ten to 

 sixteen in number, upon the ground, in an artless 

 nest composed of grass, and lined with a few fea- 

 thers : the eggs are white, and are hatched about 

 the middle of June : the young follow the mother 

 as soon as hatched : their flesh is greatly prized, 

 and is very plump and juicy. They are called by 

 the natives of Hudson's Bay Azv-lds-coiv^ accord- 

 ing to Hearne. 



