480 
DUSKY GROUSE. 
with the best figures, and accompanied with farther details 
respecting their habits. In the mean time, I shall merely 
state, that, being replaced in Africa by Pterocles, and in South 
America by Tinamus^ all the known species of grouse are found 
in North America, or in Europe, the European also inhabit- 
ing Asia ; from whose elevated central and northern regions, 
yet unexplored, may be expected any new species that still 
remain to be discovered. The extensive wilds of North America 
may also furnish more, though we do not think so ; for since 
we have become acquainted with both sexes of the dusky 
grouse, and the cock of the plains, we have been able to refer 
satisfactorily to known species all those of which any indica- 
tions occur in the accounts of travellers in this country. 
North America is exceeded by no country in the beauty, 
number, and valuable qualities of her grouse ; and she is even 
perhaps superior to all others in these respects, since the dis- 
covery of the cock of the plains. Although the careful and ac- 
curate researches of Wilson had led him to the belief that 
there existed but two species of grouse in the territory of the 
United States, no less than six are now known to inhabit 
within their boundaries. But we are not aware that any of the 
subgenus Lagopus ever enters the confines of the Union, not- 
withstanding the pains we have taken to obtain information on 
this point, from the high northern districts of Maine and 
Michigan, in which, if any where, they are most likely to be 
discovered. It would, however, be very extraordinary if these 
birds, which are found in the Alps of Switzerland, should not 
also inhabit the lofty ranges of the Rocky Mountains, which 
are known to be the resort of the various species of grouse. 
With the exception, therefore, of the well-known Tetrao urn- 
bellusy which belongs to Bonasia, all the others are true grouse, 
Tetraones, 
The spotted, and the sharp-tailed grouse, were long since 
known as inhabitants of that part of America north of the 
United States, but the two others are newly added, not only 
to our Fauna, but to the general system, being found for the 
3 
