BON AS A SABINEI Baird, 
TETRAO SABINEI. Dong., Trans. Linn. Societ., vol. xvi. (1829), p. 139. — Swain. & Rich., Fann. Bor. Amer., vol. ii., p. 343 (1831). 
TETRAD UMBELLUS. Newb., Zool. Cal. & Dreg. Route. Rep. P. R. R. Surv., vol. vi., p. 94 (1857). 
BONASA SABINEI. Baird, U. S. P. R. R. Exp. & Surv., vol. ix. p. 631.^ — Ib. Birds of North America, p. 630. — Coop. & Suckl., Nat. Hist. 
Wash. Territ., p. 224. — Elliot, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien., 1864. 
This handsome bird, an inhabitant of the western portion of our continent, is very common on the coast of Washington and Oregon Territo- 
ries, and also in Vancouver’s Island. 
It resembles in its habits the Rulfed Grouse of the more eastern States, and frequents wooded and mountainous districts ; but on account 
of the dense cover in which it chiefly remains, it is approached with difficulty. 
In the spring, the drumming of the male may be heard in the early morning, summoning the hens into his presence. This noise, re- 
sembling the rolling of a distant drum, is produced by rapid and violent beating of the wings, and can be distinguished a considerable way off. 
The females soon assemble, and no doubt greatly admire the pompous bearing of their lord, as he struts with expanded tail before them. 
The species is polygamous; the male deserting the females during the period of incnbation, and leaving the young brood entirely to 
their watchful care. The nest is placed in some thicket, the better to conceal its contents from the prying eyes of some thieving crow or 
raven, either of wdiich have a decided weakness for making a meal upon the eggs. 
The young run as soon as they are hatched, and, at the slightest note of alarm from their vigilant mother, squat, and lie so still and close to 
the ground as to render it no easy undertaking to discover them. 
Douglass was the first to constitute this bird as distinct from the common Bonasa Umbellus, on account principally of its dark red 
color, and the absence of any of the gray hues so prevalent in the eastern species. Prof. Baird, in the Birds of North America, is also 
inclined to consider it entitled to specific distinctness, basing his opinion not only on the color of the plumage, but also upon the great 
length of the middle toe. 
If this last character was confined to the western bird exclusively, it would undoubtedly, in conjunction with the difference in color, be 
a good reason for giving it a specific value ; but as an equal length of the toe can also be found in the Ruffed Grouse, it woidd seem best 
not to take that into consideration ; and therefore this bird’s claims for separation would rest upon the color of its plumage. 
At the present time, it would seem that no specimen has been obtained, among the varying examples of the Bonasa Umbellus, on 
the eastern coast, which presents the deep rich hues of the typical form of Bonasa Sabinei ; and as the Bonasa UmbeUoides, an apparently 
good and distinct species, inhabits an intermediate region, it is perhaps best to retain the western form under the appellation given to it by 
Douglass, rather than to consider it merely a variety of the common B. Umbellus. 
Still, if at some future period examples should be procured west of the Rocky Mountains, possessing the different variations, from these 
deep red colors, to the light gray so perceptible in some specimens of the Ruffed Grouse, the conclusion would be a natural one to con- 
sider the birds inhabiting both sides of the continent as but one species ; although the singular fact would remain, that they were divided 
by a different and smaller species. 
I regret that sufficient material from the west coast has not yet been obtained to settle this question satisfactorily. 
The flesh of Sabine’s Grouse is white, tender, and well flavored, in no way inferior, I believe, to that of its eastern relative ; and as 
the forests of those distant regions are gradually thinned by the axe of the hardy pioneer, and the pursuit of these birds is rendered less 
difficult, then undoubtedly they wdll become as much an object of attention to the sportsman as are the Ruffed Grouse in our more 
thickly populated States at the present day. 
My plate represents the two sexes, of the natural size ; and they may be described as follows : 
General color dark orange chestnut, mottled upon the back and wings with black, each feather having a distinct central streak of 
reddish white. Head and neck lighter than the body ; flanks reddish yellow, barred with black, and having the central marks of 
reddish white. Primaries dark reddish brown, mottled on the outer webs with reddish yellow. The tail, dark red, is tipped with 
gray, with a subtermiual bar of black, beyond which is another line of gray, followed by eight or ten irregular narrow bars of black. 
The under tail coverts are orange chestnut indistinctly barred with black, terminating with an angular white spot. Tufts on sides of 
the neck dark metallic green. Feathers on the thighs and tarsi reddish gray. Bill dark brown, feet yellowish. 
