152 
GALLIFORMES 
FAMILY — TETRAONIDAE. GROUSE 
The grouse have the nostrils hidden in feathers that occupy an intru- 
sive space at the sides of the base of the bill (Figure 219). The tarsus is 
either completely or partly feathered; in the ptarmigan the feathering 
includes the toes. The toes when unfeathered, in winter, are bordered on 
each side by a small fringe composed of individually horny scales or 
pectinations (Figure 225, page 155), which are shed in midsummer. Many 
species, especially in breeding season, have fleshy erectile combs over the 
eyes, coloured yellow or red. The grouse comprise the bulk of our upland 
game birds and are great favourites of sportsmen. The sexes are nearly 
alike, show slight seasonal variation in plumage, except in the ptarmigan, 
and the birds do not usually migrate. The ptarmigan, which directly 
reverse each of these statements, are so well characterized otherwise that 
no confusion is probable. All species nest on the ground, making little 
preparation for the eggs. They lay unusually large sets of eggs, six to 
eighteen, and the young, chicken-like, follow the parent as soon as out of 
the shell. 
Flue Grouse 
In the western mountain districts are two species of large, slate-blue 
grouse that can be combined under the colloquial term Blue Grouse. Until 
lately they were regarded as subspecies of a single species, but in the latest 
Check-list (1931) they are given distinct specific standing. 
297. Dusky Grouse, le tetras sombre. Dendragopus obscurus. L, about 21. 
Plate XVII B. A large grouse, the male an even, dark, slaty grey below, the female con- 
fusedly patterned or barred with ochres and browns but abdomen dull slate. Very similar 
in either sex to next succeeding species. 
Distinctions, Far western range; size, considerably larger than a Ruffed Grouse; 
and general slatiness of the male. The female is patterned much like the female Spruce 
or Franklin’s Grouse, but is decidedly larger and the centre of the abdomen is evenly 
slaty without evident barring. These details will separate from all grouse but the closely 
allied Sooty Grouse. The most obvious distinction in Canadian birds between these two 
is the well-defined terminal grey tail band in the male (Figure 221, compare with 222). 
It is a rather variable character, however, and birds intergrading in this character occur. 
Females are even more difficult to separate and in many cases geography makes the only test. 
Field Marks. A far western woodland species. Large size, general leaden greyness 
of the male, and general sandy duskiness of the female. The solidly coloured tail will 
distinguish from the Ruffed Grouse and the unbarred breast and underparts from the 
female Spruce or Franklin’s Grouse that may inhabit the same territory. To be distin- 
guished from the Sooty Grouse by its geographical distribution east of the Coast Range, 
and its more subdued hooting, given from the ground and audible for only a hundred 
yards or so, instead of from trees and carrying a mile or more. 
Distribution. The western mountain region and their eastern foothills. In Canada, 
British Columbia east of the Coast Range, southern Yukon, and parts of Mackenzie 
Valley. 
Nesting. On the ground. 
SUBSPECIES. Though the characters of the Canadian races of Dusky Grouse 
seem to be satisfactorily understood, the nomenclature of them offers difficulties as to 
which proposed name should be applied. Two races occur: a dark, northern form and a 
paler, southern one that crosses the International Boundary from the south. According 
to the latest information, the former is referable to Fleming’s Grouse (le Tetras sombre 
de Fleming,) Dendragopus obscurus jlemingi, the latter to Richardson’s Dusky Grouse (le 
Tetras sombre de Richardson) Dendragopus obscurus richardsoni, of which the Pallid 
Dusky Grouse Dendragopus obscurus pollidus, recently described, is a synonym. 
