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TETRAONID®. 
The Tetraonidca is another family of the Rasores 
which belongs to British ornithology. The birds 
belonging to it in general pair and remain in par- 
ties, the number of the broods from season to 
season ; but some species are polygamous, and run 
into this great characteristic of the rasorial group. 
They, during winter, congregate in large flocks, 
without distinction of broods, and continue thus 
assembled until breeding time. There is in all a 
greater or less change of plumage during the breed- 
ing season, and in some, that of the winter is very 
different from the summer state. The deprivation 
in this family of the naked skins and wattles, &c., 
with the large development of the tail and its ac- 
cessaries so prevalent among the Pavonidce, is repre- 
sented only by the bright coloured skin around the 
eyes ; the elongation of the feathers on the sides of 
the neck, and by the bare skins, capable of being 
inflated upon the axilla and sides of the neck.* 
All of them breed upon the ground, and, with few 
exceptions, they lay numerous eggs ; they are, in- 
deed, chiefly terrestrial in their habits, though 
several species inhabit wooded districts, perch on 
trees, and feed on their young shoots or buds. 
The genus Tetrao, or the Grouse, which are 
chiefly characteristic of this family, were for- 
* See particularly in the American species. T. cupido, %c. 
