198 
TETKAO PHASIANELLUS. 
descended in this instance, as, after all the pains besto* 
the description is only that of an individual. The ■ 
is pure black beneath, considerably paler at tip a®* j, 
the undulations of the middle feathers. The tars' 1 ? j 
three quarters of an inch long; the feathers with 
it is covered, together with the femorals, are P® 4 
grayish ochreous, undulated with dusky; the tors 11 
dusky, and the nails blackish. 
The male is but little larger, and entirely, but 
intensely black. We can, however, say very h 
about it, having taken but a hasty and imperfect v) J 
of a specimen belonging to Mr Sabine of London- % 
writing merely from recollection. The tail-featbc' S ^ 
wholly black, perfectly plain and unspotted ; } t 
the female and young, they are but slightly mottle®’ j 
is seen in almost all grouse. Mr Sabine has Ion? 
this bird in his possession, and intended dedicating 
as a new species, to that distinguished traveller- 
Richardson. 
43. TETBA 0 PHASIANELLUS, I.IN SHARP-TAILED GR 0V&' 
BONAPARTE, PLATE XIX. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSE O 1 ’ 
Tins species of grouse, though long since saw.u 
inhabit Virginia, is, in fact, a recent, acquisition to ^ 
Fauna of the United States; for it was only throUr t 
an awkward mistake that it was ever attributed to 4 * 
country. Mitchell, upon an inspection of Edu il '.;,a 
bad drawing of this bird, mistaking it for the r« ;| 
grouse of that and the neighbouring states, declare . 
to be an inhabitant of Virginia; and upon his author ■ i 
Edwards gave it as such. This statement, how 1 ' y 
led Wilson into the erroneous belief of the identify i 
the two species, in which he was farther coulir' 0 e 
when, after the most careful researches, he be®*’', 
satisfied that the railed grouse was the only spec ,t>s 
be found in Virginia. ( |,p 
The gallant and lamented Governor Lewis ga y ® vd 
first authentic information of the existence of this 11 
