NEW SPECIES OF GROUSE. 
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and quicker, until the noise appears to die away in the 
distance, like the sound of a muffled drum. The true 
voice is a continuation of measured sounds, not unlike 
the ticking of a large clock. This very interesting and 
beautiful species was discovered by Mr Douglas in the 
woody parts of the coast of Northwest America, 
between the parallels of 40° and 49°, from Cape Men- 
docina on the south, to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, 
Quadra, and Vancouver’s Island, on the north. 
f< The fifth and last species to be noticed, though of 
smaller dimensions, is certainly not inferior in beauty 
to any of its predecessors : of this I am as yet 
acquainted only with the male. The species which it 
resembles most nearly is the Canada grouse, Tetrao 
canadensis. The general plumage is dark and glossy, 
and composed of alternate bars of black and grayish 
brown ; the head, neck, and breast, are almost black ; 
the tail is entirely black ; the upper and under tail- 
coverts are black, terminated by a large white spot ; 
and the lateral parts of the abdomen are likewise 
spotted with white. 
“ Mr Douglas states that there is nothing very peculiar 
in the manners of this bird. Its flight is similar to 
that of the last mentioned species. It runs over the 
shattered rocks, and among the brushwood, with 
amazing speed, and only uses its wings as a last effort 
to escape. Like the others, it builds on the ground, 
not unfrequentiy at the foot of decayed stumps, or by 
the side of fallen timber in the mountain woods. The 
nest is composed of dead leaves and grass, and contains 
from five to seven eggs, of a dingy white colour, and 
not larger than those of our wood pigeon. 
<c The alarm note of this bird is composed of two or 
three hollow sounds, ending in a disagreeable grating 
noise, like the latter part of the cry of the well known 
guinea fowl. It is said to be one of the most common 
birds in the valleys of the Focky Mountain, from lat. 
50° to 54°, near the sources of the Columbia Fiver. 
It probably inhabits still higher latitudes. Small flocks 
