DUSKY GROUSE. 
195 
expected any new species that still remain to he disco- 
vered. The extensive wilds of North America may 
also furnish more, though we do not think so ; for since 
we have become acquainted with both sexes of the 
dusky grouse, and the cock of the plains, we have been 
able to refer satisfactorily to known species all those of 
which any indications occur in the accounts of travellers 
in this country. 
North America is exceeded by no country in the 
beauty, number, and valuable qualities of her grouse ; 
and she is even perhaps superior to all others in these 
respects, since the discovery of the cock of the plains. 
Although the careful and accurate researches of Wilson 
had led him to the belief that there existed but two 
species of grouse in the territory of the United States, 
no less than six are now known to inhabit within their 
boundaries. But we are not aware that any of the 
subgenus Lagopus ever enters the confines of the 
Union, notwithstanding the pains we have taken to 
obtain information on this point from the high northern 
districts of Maine and Michigan, in which, if any where, 
they are most likely to be discovered. It would however 
be very extraordinary if these birds, which are found 
in the Alps of Switzerland, should not also inhabit the 
lofty ranges of the Rocky Mountains, which are known 
to be the resort of the various species of grouse. With 
the exception, therefore, of the well known Tetrao 
umbellus, which belongs to Bonasia , all the others are 
true grouse, Tetraones . 
The spotted, and the sharp-tailed grouse, were long 
since known as inhabitants of that part of America 
north of the United States, but the two others are 
newly added, not only to our fauna, but to the general 
system, being found for the first time in the American 
territory and not elsewhere. For the history of the 
discovery, the manners, habitation, and a particular 
description of each of these, we shall refer the reader 
to their several articles. 
The dusky grouse is eminently distinguished from all 
other known species by having the tail slightly rounded, 
