Tetbaonid*. BIRDS. Tete aonids!. 
clxxx 
inent, and lias been known to breed there. 'J'he 
length of this bird is about sixteen and a quarter 
inches ; wing, six and three-quarters ; tail, five and a 
half. 'I'he tail has sixteen feathers, with a broad, 
brownish-orange terminal band. 
FRANKLIN’S GROUSE [Ganace canadensis; var. 
franhlini). — 'I'his variety is found on the Northern 
Rocky Mountains, near the United States boundary, 
and west to the Coast Range. 'I’he differences be- 
tween these two are considerable, yet not enough to 
cause a separation. 'J'his species is similar to cana- 
densis, but with the tail-feathers entirely black, 
without the terminal band of orange-brown. 'I'he 
upper tail-coverts are broadly tipped with white. 
DUSKY GROUSE {Ga7iace oiscurus ; var. olscurus). 
— 'I’his species is confined to the Rocky Mountain 
region, from Oregon to New Mexico. Dr. Newberry 
considers this as the handsomest of all the American 
birds of this family. Its flesh is white, and fully 
equal to the Ruffed Grouse or Quail. It is consid- 
ered to be more related to the Ruffed Grouse in its 
habits than any other bird. 'I’his Grouse is rarely 
seen on the prairie, but frequents the dense spruce 
forests near the coast. It has remarkable powers of 
ventriloquism. When the bird is sitting on a limb 
above you, its voice seems to come from some re- 
mote place. A variety, called the fuliginosus, is found 
on the north-western coast, from Oregon to Sitka. 
In Oregon it is known as the Blue Grouse. 'I’he 
male of the Dusky Grouse has a peculiar call. It is 
said to be a jirolonged sound, resembling the whirr 
of a rattan-cane moved rapidly through the air. 
'I’his is repeated several times with considerable 
rapidity, and then stops for a brief interval. 'I’his is 
said to be produced by the alternate inflation and 
contraction of sacs, one on each side of the throat, 
which are usually concealed by the feathers, and are 
covered by an orange-colored, thick, corrugated skin. 
Another variety (the richardsoni) is found in the 
Rocky Mountain region of British America, and 
southward to the Yellowstone. 'I’he length of the 
Oregon Dusky Grouse is twenty inches ; wing, eight 
and a half; tail, about six and a quarter. 
SAGE COCK [Gentrocercus waphasianus). — 'I’his 
bird is considerably larger than the preceding spe- 
cies. Its habitat is the sage-plain of the North- 
west. IVIr. Nuttall saw it in numbers on the north 
branch of the Platte. 'I’hey were always on the 
ground, in small flocks or pairs, by no meaTis shy ; 
but when too nearly approached, utter a rather loud 
but short guttural chuckle, and rising with a strong, 
whirring sound. Like other Grouse, it is very un- 
suspicious, and is easily caught. Owing to the 
nature of their food — the sage — they are not edible. 
“ At the mating season the male is said to select 
some small eminence on the banks of streams for the 
very singular performances it goes through with at 
that period in the presence of its mate. 'I’he wings 
are lowered and dragged on the ground, making a 
buzzing sound ; the tail, somewhat erect, is spread 
like a fan ; the bare and yellow esophagus is in- 
flated to a prodigious size, and said to become nearly 
half as large as its body ; while the silky, flexile 
feathers on the neck are erected. Assuming this 
grotesque form, the bird proceeds to display a singu- 
lar variety of attitude, at the same time chanting a 
love-song in a confused and grating, but not an 
offensively disagreeable tone. In the winter these 
birds are said to be found in large flocks of several 
hundreds; in the spring, in pairs; and later in the 
summer and fall, in small family groups. 'I’hey are 
abundant throughout the barren, arid plains of the 
Columbia and in Northern California, but were not 
met with east of the Rocky Mountains. Dr. New- 
berry regards this Grouse, when in full plumage, as 
rather a handsome bird, and much better looking 
than any figure of it he had seen. It is much the 
largest of American Grouse, weighing from five to 
six pounds. 'I’he male bird has a distinctive charac- 
ter in the spaces of bare, orange-colored skin which 
occupy the sides of the neck, and are usually con- 
cealed by the feathers, but may be inflated to a great 
size.” — North American Birds. A very curious 
anatomical peculiarity is said to be found in this 
species : they have no gizzard, having instead a soft, 
meTiibraneous stomach, rendering it impossible to 
digest any hard food. 'I’hey are not known to eat 
grain of any kind, but feed mostly on artemesia, or 
wild sage, and grasshoppers. 'I’he length of the 
male is thirty-three inches; wing, thirteen; tail, 
thirteen. 
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE {Pedioccetes phasianellus). 
— 'I’his bird is found in British America, and west- 
ward in Alaska. “ It frequents the open glades or 
low thickets on the borders of lakes, especially where 
the forests have been partially cleared ; perching on 
trees in the winter, but keeping to the ground in 
summer, and at all seasons met with in small flocks 
of ten to sixteen. 'I’hey are said,. early in spring, to 
select some level idace, where a covey meets every 
morning and runs round in a circle of about twenty 
feet in diameter, so that the grass is worn quite bare. 
If any one approaches this circle, the birds squat 
close to the ground ; but, if not alarmed by a too 
near approach, they soon stretch out their necks to 
survey the intruder, and resume their circular course, 
some running to the right, and others to the left, 
meeting and crossing each other. 'I’hese ‘ Partridge 
dances’ are said to last a month or more, or until the 
female begins to incubate. 'I’his Grouse rises from 
the ground with the usual whirring noise, and alights 
again at a distance of a few hunderd yards, some- 
times on the ground or the branches of a tree. In 
winter they hide in the snow, and make their way 
with ease through the loose drifts, feeding on the 
buds of the willows, larches, aspens, etc. In sum- 
mer and autumn their food is principally berries. 
'I’hey are said to lay about thirteen eggs early in 
June, the nest being on the ground, formed with 
grasses lined with feathers.” — North American 
Bh’ds. Another variety (columbianus, the Colum- 
bia Sharp-tail) is found more to the southward. 'I’he 
plains and prairies of Wisconsin and Illinois abound 
with them. 'I’his bird is found much farther west 
than the Prairie Chicken, the latter being confined 
to the region east of the Mississippi Valley. 'I’his 
