165 
gojms obscurus richardsoni, ranging east to the Rocky mountains, is slightly lighter ir 
general coloration, the tail feathers are cut more squarely across the end, and the terminal 
band is either absent or but faintly defined (Figure 190, compare with 189). These char- 
acters are not finally determinative and in coloration the two forms occasionally seem to 
merge. Though so nearly alike the two are very different in habitat and habits. Both 
hoot, but though the hoot of the male Sooty can be heard for miles, that of Richardson's 
is inaudible at a few hundred yards. Strangely, the females of both forms seem to have a 
single loud note of great carrying power. Adult males of the Sooty Grouse in spring have 
the skin on the sides of the neck bright yellow, thickened, capable of distention and 
display. Plate XXI B shows this form with neck sacs inflated in the act of hooting. 
These features are practically absent from Richardson’s Grouse. Besides these two 
forms a dark northern interior one, Dendragopus obscurus flemingi, most nearly related to 
richardsoni , is recognized from northern British Columbia and southern Yukon. A reddish 
northern coastal one, resembling obscurus , has been recorded from southern Alaska and 
adjoining British Columbia, but has not yet been passed upon by the American Ornitho- 
logists’ Union Committee. The female of this last species is sometimes so strikingly red 
as to have given rise to reports of the Ruffed Grouse occurring on Queen Charlotte 
islands. 
298. Spruce Partridge (Including Hudsonlan, Alaska, and Canada Spruce 
Partridge), spruce grouse. Canada grouse, fool hen. Canachites canadensis. L, 
15. Plate XXII A. A small Grouse. The male coloured in black, grey, and white with 
small red comb but little other colour. Female irregularly barred all around body with 
the same colours, but with large admixture of rusty-brown. 
Distinctions. Size will distinguish from 
any other Grouse but the very closely allied 
Franklin’s Grouse of British Columbia and 
the mountains, and the Ptarmigan of the 
north and higher elevations. Easily distin- 
guished from the latter by the unfeathered 
toes (compare with Figure 193). The male 
is distinguished from Franklin's by the 
rusty-ochre tips to the tail feathers and the 
absence of broad white tips to uppertail- 
coverts (Figure 191, compare with 192). 
Northwestern birds, the Alaska Spruce 
Grouse, sometimes have white at the end 
of tail coverts, but never on the tip of tail 
itself which is a common character in Franklin’s of either sex. _ Females are more 
difficult to distinguish and may at times be inseparable from Franklin’s. The rusty tail 
tip and the absence of broad white tips to uppertail-coverts in this species are the best 
distinctions. 
Field Marks. Small size and general black, grey, and white coloration and red comb 
of male. Female is a small, reddish-brown Grouse strongly banded all around body. 
Unless terminal rusty tail band is observed in flight probably not separable by sight from 
Franklin’s Grouse. 
Distribution. The northern spruce forests across the continent. In the Prairie 
Provinces south to the edge of the continuous forest, but not extending far southward in the 
mountains. In British Columbia not reaching the Canadian National Railway tracks nor 
the coast anywhere. 
SUBSPECIES. The Spruce Partridge is divided into several recognized subspecies. 
The Hudsonian Spruce Partridge Canachites canadensis canadensis occupies most of 
the northiand from Labrador west to the base of the Rocky mountains near Jasper park. 
There is also an apparently isolated community on the southwest coast of Alaska; for 
which a separate name has been proposed. The Alaska Spruce Partridge Canachites 
canadensis osgoodi occupies central Alaska, the Yukon, northern British Columbia, and 
Mackenzie valley. Manitoba, north to the head of tne big lakes, is inhabited by the 
Canada Spruce Partridge Canachites canadensis canace, which is also the southern 
Ontario and Maritime Province form. These races are too slightly defined, however, to 
warrant consideration by any but the expert with a large series of specimens for 
comparison. 
