THE SAVAGE WORLD, 
37 i 
OPENING OF THE CHICKEN SEASON. 
The Cock of the Plains (Tetras urophasianus ) is now a very rare bird, 
found occasionally in southern California. He differs from other species in 
having a very 
long tail, which 
in the strutting 
season he spreads 
in magnifi cent 
display, droops 
his wings like 
the turkey, erects 
the silken plumes 
of his neck and 
puffs out his crop 
after the fashion 
of the pouter 
pigeon. The 
flesh is not es¬ 
teemed. 
The Black 
Grouse (Tetrao 
tetrix ) is a habi¬ 
tant of southern 
Europe, but it is scarce and extremely wary. This bird differs from other species 
i.n several particulars. It crows in a stridulous voice, which has been likened 
to the sound of whetting 
a scythe. The male is also 
polygamous, and rather in¬ 
different in his affections 
to both females and his 
young. In the winter the 
sexes separate, and in the 
spring, when the courting 
season opens, the males 
battle until the authority 
of the strongest is estab¬ 
lished. The general color 
of the male is a glossy 
black, with a hue of blue. 
The tail is bifurcated, caused 
by the greater length of the 
outer feathers, which curve 
outward at the tips. 
The Ptarmigan (. Lag-o¬ 
pus a lbus) differs from 
others of the species, except 
the red grouse, in having 
the legs and toes heavily 
feathered. It is also distinguished for the change of plumage which takes place 
to accommodate the bird to the rigorous climate where it makes its home. In 
PRAIRIE HEN ON HER NEST. 
