94 
ZOOLOGY. 
trunk, makes a booming call, which, by a remarkable ventriloquial power, serves rather to 
mislead than direct the sportsman, and unless experienced in shooting this kind of grouse, he 
will be likely to spend much time, with nothing to show for it, in a vain search for the bird. 
TETRAO UMBELLUS. 
Buffed Grouse. 
This bird we did not see within the limits of California, in the lake basin, nor in that of the 
Des Chutes river, hut in the wooded portions of the Cascade mountains and in the Willamette 
valley it was very abundant, and was killed in considerable numbers by the different members 
of our party. 
The only difference which I noticed between the specimens obtained there and those found 
east of the Mississippi was in color, the Oregon specimens being generally darker. 
The habits of the bird are, apparently, everywhere the same. Their excellence for the table 
is proverbial ; hut from their habit of living in wooded districts they are sometimes with 
difficulty put up, and are usually shot on the ground—affording less exciting and legitimate 
sport than species which are only killed on the wing. 
TETRAO PHASIANELLUS. 
The Sharp-tailed Grouse. 
* 
The sharp-tailed grouse is found associated with the “ prairie chicken” ( T . cupido) on the 
prairies bordering the Mississippi and Missouri, and is frequently confounded with that bird by 
the “pothunters,” who annually destroy immense numbers of both species. It is, however, 
easily distinguishable by its lighter plumage, speckled breast, and smaller size, and is always 
the least abundant of the two species when they exist together. The range of the sharp-tailed 
grouse extends much further westward than that of the prairie chicken, the latter species being 
limited to the valley of the Mississippi, while the former is found as far west and south as the 
valleys of California. 
Coming north from San Francisco, we first found it on a beautiful prairie near Canoe creek, 
about fifty miles northeast of Fort Reading ; subsequently, after passing the mountain chain 
which forms the upper canon of Pit river, we came into a level, grass-covered plain, through 
which the willow-bordered river flows in a sinuous course like a brook through a meadow. On 
this plain were great numbers of birds of various kinds, and so many of the sharp-tailed 
grouse, that, for two or three days, they afforded us fine sport and an abundance of excellent 
food. We found them again about the Klamath lakes, and in the Des Chutes basin quite 
down to the Dalles. 
The flesh of this species is much like that of the “prairie hen,” and, though not equal to 
that of the dusky or ruffed grouse, was always regarded as an acceptable addition to our bill 
of fare. 
The bird lies close, and when flushed flies off, uttering a constantly repeated kuck, kuck, 
kuck, with a steady flight and considerable swiftness. It is, however, tender and easily killed, 
No. 4, and even No. 6, shot being, if properly directed, sure to bring them down when within 
moderate range. The young birds, being fat and heavy, as they tall on the grassy prairie 
scatter their feathers about as though torn quite in pieces, giving gratifying evidence of their 
fituess for the table. 
