334 
ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL 
fiesli is dark coloured ; and, I am sorry to add, not pa r ' 
ticularly good in point of flavour. 
“ The next species in size and importance is Richard- 
son’s grouse, ( Tetrao Richardsmii,') so named 111 
honour of Dr Richardson, the distinguished traveller- 
The most remarkable feature in the plumage of tin* 
species is the contrast between the plumage of the mal® 
and female. The prevailing colours of the former are 
obscure lead colour and brown, those of the latter 
yellowish brown and black, with a few streaks an® 
spots of white. 
“ The weight of these birds varies from two and a 
to three pounds. Their flesh is white and excellent- 
They pair in April, and form their nests of small twig®» 
leaves, and grass, on the declivities of subalpine bilk- 
They usually select, for the purposes of nidificatin' 1 ' 
small coppices of hazel and birch, in the vicinity ® 
springs or mountain rills. They lay from thirteen t 
nineteen eggs, which are nearly as large as those of y 1 
domestic fowl, and are marked with larger and sinall e ’ 
specks of red. According to Mr Douglas their per"' 
of incubation is three weeks. They teed on the h" - 
of the pine, the catkins of birch, alder, and hazel, 
the fruit of Fragaria and Vaccinium. Their voice w 
a continuation of distinct hollow sounds like the cooJtje 
of a dove. Their flight is swift, steady, and particular!, 
graceful. When startled from the sombre branches o 
the overshadowing pine trees, their usual roost "k 
places, they descend, or rather drop, to within a 
feet of the ground before they commence flying,—'' 
circumstance which, Mr Douglas observes, often lea<k 
the hunter to think he has secured his bird, until n_ 
sees it in the distance winging its way through t® 
forest. This trait seems peculiar to the species. 
bird, however, is more easily destroyed, for they " ‘ 
often continue to sit, with apparent tranquillity, on t '' 
rocks or pine trees, after several shots have been fire • 
In spring they are seen in great numbers basking in t ' 
sun on the southern declivities of the low hills, and ■> 
