TETRAONIN^. 
The  birds  which  compose  this  division  are  inhabitants  of  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  America,  where  they 
prefer  the  woody  mountains  and  the  shrubby  barren  country.  They  are  usually  found  in  small  coveys  of  more  than 
tour  or  hve  together,  but  sometimes  in  pairs  or  singly.  They  leave  their  sequestered  haunts  in  the  woods  early  in  the 
morning,  and  seek  the  paths  and  I’oads  to  obtain  their  food.  These  birds  generally  spring,  when  alarmed,  with  a loud 
whirring  noise ; and  fly  with  great  vigour  through  the  woods,  beyond  the  reach  of  view,  before  tliey  ali<rht.  In  the 
spring  they  are  discovered  by  a sonorous  crepitating  sound,  strongly  resembling  a low  peal  of  distant  thunder;  which 
is  produced  by  the  male,  by  means  of  beating  his  sides  with  his  wings,  with  such  an  accelerated  motion,  after  the  first 
few  strokes,  as  to  cause  a drumming  which  may  be  heard  reverberating,  in  a still  morning,  to  the  distance  of  from 
a _ quarter  to  half  a mile.  This  curious  signal  is  repeated  at  intervals  of  about  six  or  eight  minutes.  During  the 
winter  they  congregate  in  small  flocks  on  the  trees,  and,  when  suddenly  alarmed,  they  frequently  dive  into  the  snow, 
particularly  when  it  has  newly  fallen,  and,  coming  out  at  a considerable  distance,  again  take  wing.  Their  food  consists 
chiefly  of  buds  of  various  trees,  and  also  berries  and  leaves,  but  much  depends  on  the  season  of  the  year.  The  female 
usually  selects  some  thicket  or  side  of  a fallen  log,  in  a dense  part  of  the  woods,  for  the  situation  of  her  nest.  This  is 
composed  merely  of  a few  withered  leaves,  collected  from  the  surrounding  ground ; and  in  it  the  female  deposits  from 
ten  to  fifteen  eggs. 
1.  B.  umbellus  (Linn.)  Steph.  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  49.  — Tetrao 
togatus  Linn.  PI.  enl.  104. ; T.  umbelloides  et  T.  Sabinii  Lougl. 
Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  41. 
2.  B.  sylvestris  Brehm.  — Tetrao  Bonasia  Linn.  PI.  enl.  474, 
475.;  T.  canus  Gmel.?  • Bonasa  rupestris  Brehm.;  B.  betulina 
Strickl. ; B.  europsea  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  251. 
Lagopus  Brins.* 
Differs  from  the  preceding  by  the  Tarsi  and  Toes  being  completely  clothed  with  hair-like  feathers,  but 
the  latter  somewhat  less  so  m the  summer  months ; and  the  claws  long  and  nearly  straight. 
It  is  on  the  lofty  mountains  of  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  Americti  that  these  birds  are  found,  as  well  as  in 
very  high  latitudes  within  the  arctic  circle,  from  which  in  winter  they  tardily  retire,  but  are  capable  of  bravdng  the 
Jhlthik^'^nf  ^ degree  of  atitude  They  are  usually  seen  on  the  barren  grounds,  and  wHd  wastes,  or  among 
the  thickets  of  yillows  and  dwarf  birches  on  the  banks  of  marshes  and  lakes,  or  in  the  open  woods.  They  live  durino-  the 
autumn  and  winter  in  sejxirate  flocks  of  each  sex,  composed  of  numerous  individuals,  until  the  return  of  sprino-  when 
they  separate  and  pair.  Some  species  prefer  in  winter  sandy  places  during  the  day ; but  the  night  is  passed  in  holes  in 
the  snow,  in  which  they  find  a warm  and  secure  retreat.  When  in  danger,  these  birds  cast  themselves  headlon<r  into  the 
loose  snow,  and  force  their  way  beneath  the  surface  with  remarkable  quiclmess.  The  plumage  of  most  of  the  species 
varies  vnth  the  season:  in  the  spring,  they  begin  to  lose  their  pure  white  winter  feathers;  the  change  commences 
on  the  head  and  neck,  these  parts  becoming  of  a dark  colour,  which  gradually  extends  over  the  entire  body  of  the  bird, 
as  the  summer  advances.  While  feeding,  they  usually  call  on  one  another  at  intervals,  in  a loud  tone ; and  sometimes 
utter  a sort  of  cackling  cry,  almost  like  a coarse  and  mocking  laugh.  Their  food  consists  of  the  tender  tops  of  heaths, 
aiul  _ berries  ot  various  alpine  plants,  which  they  are  capable  of  finding  at  some  depth  below  the  surface  of  the  snow. 
Iheir  ne^s  are  slightly  formed  of  a few  stalks  of  heaths  and  grasses,  sometimes  on  the  bare  earth,  concealed  behind 
stones.  _ Ihe  female  usually  lays  from  eight  to  fourteen  eggs.  The  male  leaves  the  care  of  incubation  to  the  female ; 
but  assists  her  in  the  rearing  and  feeding  of  the  young. 
].  K scoticus  (Lath.)  Steph.  Gould’s  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  252. 
2.  L.  albus  (Gmel.)  Steph.  Gould’s  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  255.  — Tetrao 
lapponicus  Gmel. ; T.  Lagopus  Rets. ; T.  subalpinus  Mis.  ; T. 
saliceti  Temm.  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  191.,  Edwards’s  Birds  pi.  72., 
Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  I9I. 
3.  L.  mufus  Leach.  — Tetrao  Lagopus  Linn.  PI.  enl.  129.  494.  ; 
Lagopus  alpinus  JVile. ; L.  vulgaris  Fieill.  Gould’s  B.  of  Eur.  ph 
253. ; T.  rupestris,  pi.  254.  ? ; L.  americanus  Audub. 
4.  L.  rupestris  (Lath.  >)  Steph.  Faun.  Bor.  Amer.  pi.  64.,  Audub. 
B.  of  Amer.  pi.  368.  418.  f.  1. 
5.  L.  leucurus  Swains.  Faun.  Bor.  Amer.  pi.  63.,  Audub.  B.  of 
Amer.  pi.  418. 
6.  L.  brachydactylus  (Temm.)  Gould’s  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  256. 
7.  L.  islandorum  Faber,  Prod,  der  Island.  Orn.  p.  6. 
8.  L.  persicus  G.  R.  Gray. 
* Established  by  Brisson  {Ornitholoyie)  in  I76O. 
February,  1845. 
