INTRODUCTION. 
* 
lofty ranges of the Andes would afford them a congenial home. Some Ptarmigan inhabit both continents, but there is no 
species of Grouse common to the Old and New Worlds. 
North America appears to be the natural home of the Tetraoninm, for, of the twenty-two known species, fourteen are found 
within her borders. Of these, three live on, and to the westward of the Rocky Mountains, — Bonaaa Sabinei, Canace Frankllnli, 
and LagopuH Leumrus ■ five dwell to the eastward of this great range — Bonasce UmheUus and Unihelloides, Canace Canadensis, 
Cupidonia Capido, and Pedieccetes Phasianellus ; four are to be met with on both sides of the Mountains — Centrocercus TJropliasianus, 
Pedlcccetes Oolumhianus, Pendragapus Ohscurus, and B. Ricliardsonn ; and two are inhabitants of the extreme northern parts of the 
continent — Lagopus Alhus and Lagopus Rupestris. Europe possesses six species — Bonasa Sylvesiris, Lyrurus Tetrix, Tetmo Progallus, 
Lagopus Scotlcus, Lagopus Mutus, and Lagopus Alhus. Asia has four' — Bonasa Sylvesiris, Tetrao Urogalloides, Faleipemiis Hartlauhii, 
and Lagopus Alhus. Bonasa Sylvesiris has also been found in Japan, and LMgopiis Ilyperhoreus is peculiar to Spitzbergen. 
Although not so brilliant or attractive in their plumage as the Pheasants, yet, in consequence of the delicacy of their flesh, 
the Grouse are valuable birds, and in the bleak regions of the frozen north, the Ptarmigan are one of the chief means of sub- 
sistence for the inhabitants, who kill thousands of them annually, and salt their flesh for the winter’s consumption. Perhaps no 
family of birds, excepting the Phasianidm, contains species of so much importance to man, as those comprising this Monograph, 
whether considered as affording him food, or as objects of sport in the field ; and as many of them arc capable of domes- 
tication to a certain extent, they may be introduced into the aviary, or among the inhabitants of the poultiy-yard, where in 
many instances their gentle dispositions would make them desirable acquisitions. 
Hybridism is of common occurrence among the members of this family. I have seen the offspring produced by the crossing 
of eight distinct species, and have no doubt but that wherever the territories inhabited by separate species join, the birds will 
mingle and breed together. These hybrids always bear characteristic markings by which it is comparatively easy to ascertain 
their parentage, and I have never heard of a single instance where the hybrids of two distinct species of Grouse have produced 
inter se. If such indeed was usual, the Tetraonina; would soon consist of a confused mass of aberrant forms, from among which 
it would be impossible to extricate a single original species, and to prevent such an untoward result as this, nature has interposed 
by rendering hybrids, as a general rule, infertile. It is a well-known fact that hybrids beUveen different species of Pheasants — ; 
P. Colchicus, P. Torqiiaius, and P. Versicolor — naturalized in England, have produced inter se, but to what extent I have no means 
at hand to enable me to state ; but it is probable their confined boundaries, and semi-domesticated condition, may accoiuit in a 
great measure for their ability to breed in and in without the introduction of fresh blood. Instances have been recorded where 
hybrids between different species of the xVnatidm have produced inter se, but these may be deemed exceptional cases, for in one, 
at least, it was asceiTained by dissection that this fertility did not extend to the second generation.* It is in these days, I think, 
established beyond controversy, that hybridism is of no unusual occurrence among gallinaceous birds in a Avild .state; but it seems 
necessary, in order that these hybrids should become fertile beyond the second generation, that they must at least be semi- 
domesticated; for the proof of AAdiich, we may look at the Pheasants as aboAm cited. Why this should be so, is a problem of 
no easy solution; but probably the main cause is change of food, and to some degree of even their habits also, produced by 
their altered condition of life. 
The Tetraoninm may be divided into three groups — the lYood, M'ountain, and Plain GroAise. For the first of these Ave have 
Tetrao Progallus, T. Progalloides, Canace Canadensis, Canace Franlclinii, Falcipennis Llartlmihii, Pendragapus Ohscurus, P. RicJiardsonii, 
, Bonasce Pmbellus, Pmhelloides, Sabinei, Sylvesiris, and Lyrurus Tetrix. In the next division are included TjCigognis T^eucurus and 
Lagopus Mutus; and for the third, or those species Avhich habitually dAvell upon the plains, Ave have Centrocercus Propliasianm, 
Pedieccetes Golumbianus, P. Phasianellus, Cupidonia Gupido, Lagopus Alhus, L. Scoticus, L. Rupeslris, and L. ILemileucurus. 
At one period all the species of this family were included in the genus Tetrao established by Linnseus in 173.5, having 
T. Urogallus as the type ; but as they became better undei-stood, it Avas found necessary to separate them into several genera, as 
the many distinct and varied forms presented themselves, so that iioaa’ the genus Tetrao is restricted to the species Progallus and 
Progalloides, distinguished by the elongation of the feathers beneath the chin into a beard-like appendage. 
In 1760 Brisson established the genus Lagopus, thus separating the Ptarmigan from the Grouse, and in 1819 Stephens included 
the species of Ruffed Grouse in the genus Bonasa. Mr. Swainson made a further division by instituting, in 1831, the genera Ceu- 
trocercus and Lyrurus for the Cock-of-the-Plains and Black Grouse; and other changes have at A’arious periods been nrade, until 
we noAv have no less than ten different genera, all of w^hich seem to have furnished sufficient characters to Avarrant their having 
DSI 
been established. 
^ A. iSTewton, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1860. 
2 
