IKTRODUOTIOT^. 
The Grouse are rather large in size, hea^'y in body, with small heads, the nasal fossse filled with feathers concealing the nos- 
trils; moderately long necks, short Aviugs, rounded and concave beneath; stout legs and feet, the toes having pectinations of scales 
along the edges, the liiud toe elevated above the plane of the rest; the tarsi covered with feathers, in the Bonasse only halfway, 
in the Lagopidte to the claws. I commence my rcAdew of the family with Mr. Stephens’ genus. 
B O N A S A, 
AVITH THE FOLLOWING CHAEACTEllS. 
Head crested, hill short, strong ; wings short, concave beneath, third and fourth primaries longest ; tail of eighteen broad feathers ; 
lower half of tarsi naked, covered anteriorly with two rows of scales/ sides of toes 'pectinated with scales j elates short and 
emved. 
This geinis has its representatwes in both the Old and Ncav Worlds, although the species inhabiting the former has not the 
ruff so developed as have those belonging to America. There is but little difference in the plumage of the sexes ; the female 
being distinguished chiefly by the smaller size of the ruff; in the European species, by the absence of the black throat. The 
males are polygamous, and desert the females during the period of incubation. These birds go in flocks, and on being dis- 
turbed Avill frequently take refuge in trees. They arc ; — 
1. BONASA UMBELLUS, ■. Plate I. 
2. '•' UMBELLOIDES, Plate II. 
3. “ SABINEI, Plate III. 
4. « STLVESTRIS, Plate IV. 
This last species differs from the rest in being monogamous, although the male does not remain Avith the female while the 
latter is setting, and also in not possessing the peculiar habit of drumming, so characteristic of the other species. 
The next contains only two membei’s, the giants of the family, and to Avhich Linnauis has given the term 
T E T Pv A O, 
WITH THE FOLLOWING C II All A C T E R S. 
Hill strong, upper mandible curved, head slightly crested, feathers of the chin elongated and pointed. Tarsi completely covered luith 
hair-like feathers. 
The forests of the Old World are the home of the magnificent species composing this genus; but in some localities where 
they were formerly abundant, they now exist in greatly reduced numbers; indeed, in some places, have become extinct. The 
only species arc : 
5. TETRAO UROGALLUS, . 
6. “ UROGALLOIDES, 
Plate V. 
Plate VI. 
Por the species composing the next group I propose the term 
3 
