CANACE CANADENSIS. Eeich. 
SPRUCE GROUSE. 
TETEAO CANADENSIS. Linn., Syst. Nat., vol. i., p. 274 (1766). — Porst., Phil. Trans., Ixii. p. 389 (1772). — Gmel, vol. i., p. 749 (1788). — Sab., 
Zool., Appen., Fraiit. Exp., p. 683.^ — Bon., Syn., p. 127 (1828). — Ib., Am. Ornitli., vol. hi., pi. xxi. fig. 2 (1828). — Ib., Am. Phil. 
Trans., vol. hi., N. S., p. 391 (1830). — Sw. & Eich., Faun. Bor. Amer., vol. ii., p. 346 (1831) pi. Ixii. — ^Aud., Ornith. Biog., 
vol. ii., p. 437 (1834). — Ib., Syii., p. 203. — Ib., Birds of Amer., vol. v., p. 83, pi. 294 (1842). — G. E. Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. 
hi. — Baird, Birds of Amer., p. 622 (1860). 
C AN APE CANADENSIS. Eeich., Av. Syst. Nat., 1851, Type. — Bon., Comptes Eendus, xlv., p. 428 (1857). — Elliot, Proceed. Acad. Nat. 
Scien. (1864). 
TETEAO CANACE. Linn., Syst. Nat., vol. i., p. 275 (1766). 
BLACK SPOTTED HEATHCOCK. Edw., pi. cxvih. 
SPOTTED GEOUSE. Penn. 
LA GELINOTE NOIEE DAMEEIQUE. Cuv. Eeg. Anim., vol. i., p. 449. 
Scattered throughout the northern United States to the Arctic Sea, and westward nearly to the Eocky Mountains, this Grouse is 
found amid the solitudes of the spruce forests or swamps, making its home amid their deepest recesses, where man rarely intrudes, or 
where, from the depth of the treacherous moss, which covers the swamp with a mantle of green, he is unable to pass. The Black Par- 
tridge, by which name this bird is sometimes known, is generally tame and unsuspicious, and, unlike the majority of the members of this 
family, does not seem to stand much in dread of man’s presence. They are easity tamed, and appear to bear confinement well, readily 
feeding upon oats, wheat, and other kinds of grain. They commence to breed in the tTiiited States about the middle of May, and 
farther north nearly a month later. The female conceals her nest, which is composed of leaves and moss, under the drooping branches 
of the fir tree, and lays from ten to fourteen eggs, of a deep buff color, spotted with brown. 
The males leave the females at the commencement of incubation, and betake themselves to a different part of the forest, and remain 
there until late in autumn, when they join the females and young. During the period that they are thus alone, they are more shy and 
wary than at any other season of the year. In the spilug the males strut before their mates with the tail expanded to its utmost 
extent, and wings lowered to the ground ; at intervals springing into the air and beating their sides. As an article of food, the flesh of this 
Grouse is dark and disagreeable, being frequently so bitter as to render it unfit to eat ; although I believe they are more palatable wlien 
they feed solely on berries. 
The chicks represented in the plate w^ere obtained for me in IMaine by Mr. Geo. A. Boardman, a gentleman much devoted to the 
science of ornithology. They were taken by the Indians employed by my friend, who were compelled to exercise considerable patience in 
their capture, for these young are so nimble and rapid in their movements, and hide so expertly at the first warning note from the 
female, that it is no easy matter to catch them ; the diffimdty of pursuit being greatly increased by the density of the forests they in- 
habit, and the slippery, miry nature of the ground, into wliich a man, if not very cautious, wmuld frequently sink to his wmist. 
The usual appearance of the male is as represented in the plate, but I have specimens in my cabinet which have almost the entire 
breast black. This may possibly be the result of age. ADien this species is started, it generally flies but a short distance, and takes 
refuge in some thick spruce tree, wLere it will remain motionless, watching its pursuer, and is easily shot upon its perch. 
The male may be described as follow's : 
Uj)per parts plumbeous gray, each feather crossed with bars of black parallel to each other ; wings and flanks reddish browm, 
mottled similarly to the back ; secondaries tipped with yellowish wUite ; primaries dark browm, the outer edges mottled with yellowish 
brown ; upper tail coverts lighter than the back, mottled with black, and tipped with gray. Throat and pectoral band black ; the 
former edged with a white band a Avhite mark also before the eye ; under parts wliite, crossed irregidarly with black ; tail dark brown, 
with a terminal band of orange chestnut ; under tail coverts black, barred and tipped with wliite ; bill black ; legs covered with hairy 
feathers of a yellowish brown; feet broAvn. - 
The female is much lighter than the male, upper parts similarly barred with black, but mixed with orange ; flanks, sides of the neck, 
and wings brownish, orange, crossed with black,- the feathers of the wings having a central streak of rvliite Avidening at the tip; prima- 
ries and secondaries broAvn, marked on the outer edge Avith yelloAvish broAvn ; throat yelloAvish white ; centre of abdomen white, barred 
with black ; tail dark broAAm, crossed witli five or six roAvs of reddish orange, and broadly tipped Avith the same ; feathers of the thighs 
and tarsi yelloAAish broAvn ; bill blackish broAvn ; feet browm. Over the eyes of both sexes, a conspicuous A^ermilion membrane. 
The young are of a lemon yelloAV, darker on the breast ; a black bar through the eye ; top of head and wings rufous browm, 
irregularly marked with black ; upper mandible black ; loAver, light horn color ; feet pale flesh color. 
My plate contains the first representations of these that have been given. 
