feathers rising from the crown and curving forwards so that the
broadened ends hang directly over the bill. It is about the size of the
preceding species, and is distinguished from the following one by its
white forehead, chestnut patch on the belly and the scaly appearance of
the feathers in that region, by its dark crown and the gray flanks with
white streaks. They lay from eight to twenty eggs with a creamy white or
buffy ground color, handsomely blotched with shades of brown and
yellowish brown. Size 1.20 × .93.
294a. VALLEY PARTRIDGE. _Lophortyx californica vallicola._
Range.--Interior portions of California, Oregon and Washington.
The nesting habits of this grayer sub-species do not differ in any
manner from those of the above species. The eggs are indistinguishable.
295. GAMBEL QUAIL. _Lophortyx gambeli._
Range.--Southwestern United States from Texas to California; north to
Utah.
This handsome species differs from the California in the Chestnut crown
and flanks, and the black patch on the belly. They are very abundant in
Arizona, both on the mountains and in the valleys, and apparently
without any regard to the nearness to, or remoteness from a water
supply. They breed during May, laying their eggs on the ground under any
suitable cover. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the
California Partridge, except that they average a trifle larger. Size
1.25 × .95.
[Illustration 179: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: California Partridge.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 178
296. MEARNS QUAIL. _Cyrtonyx montezumæ mearnsi._
Range.--Mexico, north to southern Arizona and New Mexico, and to western
Texas.
A remarkable species about 9 inches long; often called "Fool Quail"
because of its eccentric and clownish markings, streaks and spots of
black, white, buff, gray and chestnut. It is met with in small flocks on
the mountains and less frequently in the valleys. It frequents scrubby
wooded places rather than open hill sides and is very easy to approach
and kill; this confidence or stupidity together with its clownish
appearance are the reasons for its commonly used local name. Their nests
are hollows in the ground, lined with grasses and concealed by
overhanging tufts of grass. The eggs, which are pure white, are not
distinguishable with certainty from those of the Bob-white, but average
longer. Size 1.25 × .95.
297. DUSKY GROUSE. _Dendragapus obscurus obscurus._
Range.--Rocky Mountain region from central Montana south to New Mexico.
With the exception of the Sage Grouse, this species is the largest of
the family, being about 20 inches in length. The general tone of its
plumage below is gray; above, blackish gray and the tail blackish with a
broad terminal band of light gray. They frequent the wooded and
especially the coniferous districts, where they build their nests under
fallen trees or at the bases of standing ones. They lay from six to ten
eggs of a buffy color, sparsely spotted and blotched with brownish. Size
2.00 × 1.40.
297a. SOOTY GROUSE. _Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus._
Range.--Mountain ranges along the Pacific coast from California to
British Columbia.
Like the last, this somewhat darker sub-species is met with in timbered
regions, where its habits are about the same as those of the Ruffled
Grouse, except, of course, that they are not nearly as shy as the Grouse
in New England. Their eggs are laid in hollows beside stumps or under
logs. The eggs are buff colored, spotted with reddish brown. Size 2.00 ×
1.40.
[Illustration 180: Mearns Partridge.]
[Illustration: Rich buff.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 179
297b. RICHARDSON'S GROUSE. _Dendragapus obscurus richardsoni._
Range.--Northern Rocky Mountains from central Montana to British
Columbia.
A dark variety with no terminal band of gray on the tail. Its habits,
nesting and eggs are precisely like those of the preceding species.
298. HUDSONIAN SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. _Canachites canadensis canadensis._
Range.--Northern United States and southern British Provinces; west to
Minnesota.
A dark species, smaller than the last (15 inches long), and easily
recognized by its black throat and extensive black patch on the breast.
The habits of this species and the two varieties into which it has been
sub-divided are the same; as a species, they are very tame, will not fly
unless actually obliged to, and frequently allow themselves to be
knocked down with sticks. Their nests are hollows in the leaves on the
ground, generally under the sheltering branches of a low spreading fir
tree. The six to fifteen eggs are a bright buff color, blotched and
spotted boldly with various shades of brown. Size 1.70 × 1.25.
298b. ALASKA SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. _Canachites canadensis osgoodi._
Range.--Alaska.
This variety is practically the same as the preceding, the birds not
always being distinguishable; the nest and eggs are the same as the
Canada Grouse.
298c. Canada Spruce Partridge. _Canachites canadensis canace._
Range.--Labrador and the Hudson Bay region.
Like the last, this variety is hardly to be distinguished from the
Hudsonian. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same.
[Illustration 181: Bright buff.]
[Illustration: Sooty Grouse. Spruce Grouse.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 180
299. FRANKLIN'S GROUSE. _Canachites franklin franklini._
Range.--Northwestern United States and British Columbia.
This species is very similar to the Canada Grouse, the most apparent
difference being the absence of the brownish gray tip to the tail, and
the upper coverts are broadly tipped with white. This species, which is
very abundant in the northwest, has the same stupid habits of the
eastern bird. During the mating season, the males of both this and the
preceding species have the same habit of "drumming" that the Ruffed
Grouse has. Their nests are placed on the ground under bushes or fir
trees and from eight to fifteen eggs are laid. These are brownish buff
in color, spotted and blotched with rich brown. They are very similar to
the eggs of the Canada Grouse. Data.--Moberly Peak, Cascade Mts.,
British Columbia, June 9, 1902. 7 eggs in a slight hollow on the ground.
Collector, G. F. Dippie.
300. RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus umbellus._
Range.--Eastern United States from Minnesota to New England; south to
Virginia.
The Ruffed Grouse is "King of the Game Birds" in the east, where it has
been hunted so freely, that it has become very wary and requires a
skillful marksman to bring it down. Because of the cutting off of all
heavy timber, and the vigor with which they are pursued by hunters, they
are becoming very scarce in New England, and within a few years they
will probably be practically extinct in that section. Their favorite
resorts are heavily timbered woods or low growth birches. Their nests
are hollows in the leaves under fallen trees, beside some stump or
concealed among the small shoots at the base of a large tree. The bird
sits very close, but when she does fly, goes with the familiar rumble
and roar which always disconcerts the novice, the wind created by her
sudden flight generally causing the leaves to settle in the nest and
conceal the eggs. They lay from eight to fifteen eggs, of a brownish
buff color, sometimes with a few faint markings of brown, but generally
unspotted. Size 1.55 × 1.15. The young of all the Partridges and Grouse
are born covered with down and follow their parents soon after leaving
the shell. The adults are very skillful in leading enemies away from
their young, feigning lameness, broken wings, etc. The nesting habits
and eggs of the three sub-species are precisely the same in every
respect as those of this bird.
[Illustration 182: Brownish buff.]
[Illustration: Ruffed Grouse.]
[Illustration: Brownish buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 181
[Illustration 183: RUFFED GROUSE.]
Page 182
300a. CANADA RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus togata._
Range.--Northern United States and southern British
Provinces from Maine and Nova Scotia west to Washington
and British Columbia.
300b. GRAY RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus umbelloides._
Range.--Rocky Mountain region from Colorado to
Alaska.
A grayer species than the common.
300c. OREGON RUFFED GROUSE. _Bonasa umbellus sabini._
Range.--Pacific coast from California to British Columbia.
A dark species with the prevailing color a reddish tone.
[Illustration 184: 299--300a.]
[Illustration: J. B. Pardoe. NEST AND EGGS OF RUFFED GROUSE.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 183
301. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus lagopus lagopus._
Range.--Arctic regions, in America south nearly to the United States
border, and casually to Maine.
Ptarmigan are Grouse-like birds, feathered to the toe nails; they have
many changes of plumage, in winter being nearly pure white, and in
summer largely reddish brown or grayish, barred with black. In the
breeding plumage they have red comb-like wattles over the eye. In other
seasons, their plumage varies in all degrees between winter and summer.
They nest on the ground in hollows among the leaves, lined with a few
grasses, and sometimes feathers. They lay from six to sixteen eggs which
have a ground color of buff or brownish buff, heavily speckled, blotched
and marbled with blackish brown. Size 1.75 × 1.25.
301a. ALLEN'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus lagopus alleni._
Range.--Newfoundland. A very similar bird to the preceding; eggs
indistinguishable.
302. ROCK PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris rupestris._
Range.--Chiefly in the interior of British America, from the southern
portions to Alaska and the Arctic Ocean.
A species with a smaller bill and in summer a grayer plumage, more
finely barred with black. Its nesting habits are the same as the other
species, it nesting on the ground in such localities as would be
frequented by the Ruffed Grouse. Its eggs cannot be positively
distinguished from those of the Willow Ptarmigan. Size 1.70 × 1.20.
[Illustration 185: Brownish buff.]
[Illustration: Willow Ptarmigan. Rock Ptarmigan.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 184
302a. REINHARDT'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris reinhardi._
Range.--Labrador and Greenland; an eastern variety of the preceding
species. Its habits, nesting habits and eggs are just the same as those
of Rock Ptarmigan.
302b. NELSON'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris nelsoni._
Range.--Unalaska, of the Aleutian chain. An abundant species in its
restricted range, making its nest on the ground in the valleys. Eggs
like the others.
302c. TURNER'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris atkhensis._
Range.--Atka Island, of the Aleutian chain. Nests and eggs not
distinctive.
302d. TOWNSEND'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris townsendi._
Range.--Kyska Island of the Aleutian group.
On account of the constantly changing plumage of these birds, while
interesting, they are very unsatisfactory to study, and it is doubtful
if anyone can identify the different sub-species of the Rock Ptarmigan,
granting that there is any difference, which is doubtful.
302.1. EVERMANN'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus evermanni._
Range.--Attu Island, of the Aleutian group.
This is, in summer, the darkest of the Ptarmigans, having little or no
rufous and much blackish. The nesting habits and eggs are the same as
those of the Rock Ptarmigan.
303. WELCH'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus welchi._
Range.--Newfoundland.
This species, in summer, is more grayish than the Rock Ptarmigan, and is
very finely vermiculated with blackish. It is a perfectly distinct
species from the Allen Ptarmigan, which is the only other species found
on the island. They inhabit the higher ranges and hills in the interior
of the island, where they are quite abundant. They build their nests on
the ground under protection of overhanging bushes. The eggs are laid in
a hollow in the dead leaves, sometimes with a lining of grasses. The
eggs do not differ in size or appearance from those of the Rock
Ptarmigan. Data.--Newfoundland, June 3, 1901. Nest a slight hollow in
the moss, besides a fallen stump; lined with a few feathers. Collector,
E. H. Montgomery.
[Illustration 186: Buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 185
304. WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus leucurus leucurus._
Range.--Higher ranges of the Rocky Mountains, from New Mexico north to
Alaska.
Ptarmigan are remarkable birds in that they are in an almost continual
state of molting, nearly every month in the year showing them in
different stages of plumage, ranging from the snow-white winter dress to
the summer one in which reddish-brown prevails on Willow Ptarmigan and a
black and gray barred effect predominates on the other species. Notice
that they are feathered to the toes, in winter the feathers on the toes
growing dense and hair-like, not only protecting the toes from the cold
but making excellent snowshoes which enable them to walk with impunity
over the lightest snow.
Ptarmigan form the staple article of diet for northern foxes, and were
it not for the fact that their plumage changes to correspond to the
appearance of the ground at the various seasons they would fare hardly
indeed.
In spring the little red combs above the eyes of the males are swollen
and conspicuous. At this season they strut and perform curious antics,
such as all Grouse are noted for.
This species differs from any of the preceding in having at all seasons
of the year, a white tail; it is also somewhat smaller than the Rock
Ptarmigan. They nest abundantly near the summits of the ranges in
Colorado, making their nests among the rocks, and generally lining them
with a few grasses. During June, they lay from six to twelve eggs having
a creamy background, speckled and blotched with chestnut brown. Size
1.70 x 1.15.
304a. KENAI WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus leucurus peninsularis._
Range.--Kenai Peninsular, Alaska. A similar but paler (in summer)
variety of the preceding. The nesting habits or eggs will not differ.
305. PRAIRIE CHICKEN. _Tympanuchus americanus americanus._
Range.--The prairies, chiefly west of the Mississippi; north to
Manitoba, east to Ohio, and west to Colorado.
This familiar game bird of the west is about 18 inches in length,
brownish above and grayish below, with bars of brownish black both above
and below. In the place of the ruffs of the Ruffled Grouse, are long
tufts of rounded or square ended feathers, and beneath these a peculiar
sac, bright orange in the
[Illustration 187: Olive Buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Pag 186
breeding season, and capable of being inflated to the size of a small
orange; this is done when the bird makes its familiar "booming" noise.
They are very good "table birds" and although they are still very
abundant in most of their range, so many are being killed for market,
that it has become necessary to make more stringent laws relating to the
killing and sale of Pinnated Grouse, as they are often called. They nest
anywhere on the prairie, in hollows on the ground under overhanging
bushes or tufts of grass. They lay from eight to fifteen eggs having a
buffy or olive buff ground color, sparingly and finely sprinkled with
brown; size 1.70 × 1.25.
305a. ATTWATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN. _Tympanuchus americanus attwateri._
Range.--Coast region of Louisiana and Texas.
This is a slightly smaller and darker variety of the Pinnated Grouse.
Its eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the more northerly
distributed bird.
306. HEATH HEN. _Tympanuchus cupido._
Range.--Island of Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
This species is similar to the preceding, but has the scapulars more
broadly tipped with buff, the axillars barred, and the pinnated feathers
on the neck pointed. It is slightly smaller than the western species. It
is found on the wooded portions of the island, where its breeding habits
are the same as those of the Ruffed Grouse. Mr. Brewster probably has
the only authentic set of the eggs of this species. They are of a
yellowish green color and are unspotted. Size 1.70 × 1.25. A number of
Prairie Hens liberated on the island several years ago are apparently
thriving well, and nests found there now would be fully as apt to belong
to this species.
[Illustration 188:(baby birds)]
[Illustration: Prairie Chicken. Heath Hen.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 187
307. LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN. _Tympanuchus pallidicinctus._
Range.--Prairies from southwestern Kansas through Indian Territory to
western Texas.
A smaller and paler species than the Prairie Chicken. Never as abundant
as the common Pinnated Grouse, this species appears to be becoming
scarcer each year. Its nests are concealed under overhanging brush or
placed under a large tuft of prairie grass, and are generally lined with
a few grasses or leaves. They lay from eight to twelve eggs of a buffy
color, much lighter than those of the Prairie Chicken, and unmarked.
Size 1.65 × 1.25.
308. SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. _Pedioecetes phasianellus phasianellus._
Range.--Interior of British America, from the United States boundary
northwest to the Yukon.
Sharp-tailed Grouse are similar in form to the Prairie Chicken, but are
somewhat smaller and very much lighter in color, being nearly white
below, with arrowhead markings on the breast and flanks. This species is
very abundant in Manitoba and especially so on the plains west of Hudson
Bay. Their nests are generally concealed under a thicket or a large tuft
of grass, and are lined with grasses and feathers. They lay from six to
fifteen eggs of a drab color, very minutely specked all over with brown.
Size 1.70 × 1.25.
308a. COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. _Pedioecetes phasianellus
columbianus._
Range.--Northwestern United States and British Columbia to central
Alaska. Both the nesting habits and eggs of this variety are the same as
the last, with which species, the birds gradually intergrade as their
ranges approach.
308b. PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. _Pedioecetes phasianellus
campestris._
Range.--Plains of the United States from the Mississippi to the Rockies.
This sub-species shades directly into the two preceding where their
ranges meet, and only birds from the extreme parts of the range of each
show any marked differences. The nesting habits and eggs of all three
are not to be distinguished.
[Illustration 189: Pale buff.]
[Illustration: Buffy drab.]
[Illustration: Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 188
309. SAGE HEN. _Centrocercus urophasianus._
Range.--Sage plains of the Rocky Mountain region from British Columbia
to New Mexico, and from California to Dakota. This handsome bird is the
largest of the American Grouse, being about 30 inches long (the hen bird
is about six inches shorter). It may easily be recognized by its large
size, its peculiar graduated tail with extremely sharp pointed feathers,
and the black belly and throat. Their nests are hollows scratched out in
the sand, under the sage bushes, generally with no lining. The nesting
season is during April and May, they laying from six to twelve eggs of a
greenish drab color, spotted with brown. Size 2.15 × 1.50.
PHEASANTS. Family PHASIANIDÆ
* * * RING-NECKED PHEASANT. _Phasianus torquatus._
Several species of Pheasants have been introduced into the United
States, among them being the Ring-necked, English, and Green Pheasants.
The Ring-necked species seems to be the only one that has obtained a
really strong foothold, it being now very abundant in Oregon and
Washington, and adjacent states, and also found in abundance on many
game preserves in the east. The males of any of the species may at once
be distinguished from any of our birds by the long tail. Their nests are
hollows in the leaves under tufts of grass or bushes. They lay from
eight to fourteen eggs of a buff or greenish buff color, unmarked; size
1.50 × 1.30.
[Illustration 190: Sage Hen.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish drab.]
[Illustration: Greenish buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 189
[Illustration 191: RING-NECKED PHEASANT.]
Page 190
TURKEYS. Family MELEAGRIDÆ
310. Wild Turkey. _Meleagris gallopavo silvestris._
Range.--Eastern United States from southern Middle States south to
central Florida and west to the Mississippi Valley and eastern Texas.
These magnificent birds, which once ranged over the whole of eastern
United States, are being yearly confined to a smaller range, chiefly
because of the destruction of their natural covers, and from persecution
by hunters. They are generally very wary birds and either escape by
running through the underbrush or by flying as soon as a human being
appears in sight. Their nests are made under tangled growths of
underbrush or briers. Their eggs, which are laid during April and May,
range from eight to sixteen in number. They are of a buff color
sprinkled and spotted with brownish. Size 2.55 × 1.90. Data.--Hammond,
La., April 17, 1897. Fifteen eggs. Nest hollow scraped in the ground
under a bush on the edge of a pine woods; lined with grasses and leaves.
Collector, E. A. McIlhenny.
310a. MERRIAM'S TURKEY. _Meleagris gallopavo merriami._
Range.--Southwestern United States from Colorado south through western
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico.
This variety is abundant throughout its range, its nesting habits and
eggs being practically indistinguishable from those of the eastern form.
[Illustration 192: Buff.]
[Illustration: Sage Hen. Wild Turkey.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 191
310b. FLORIDA TURKEY. _Meleagris gallopavo osceola._
Range.--Southern Florida.
A small variety of the Wild Turkey, about 42 inches long. They breed in
the tangled thickets in the higher portions of the southern half of
Florida, laying from ten to sixteen eggs of a brighter and deeper buff
color than the northern variety, and smaller; size 2.30 × 1.75. Their
nests are generally lined with grasses and occasionally with feathers.
The female sits very close when incubating and will not fly until almost
trod upon, trusting to her variegated markings to conceal her from
observation.
310c. RIO GRANDE TURKEY. _Meleagris gallopavo intermedia._
Range.--Lowlands of the southern parts of Texas and northern Mexico. A
sub-species which differs slightly in plumage and not at all in nesting
habits or eggs from the common Wild Turkey.
CURASSOWS AND GUANS. Family CRACIDÆ
311. CHACHALACA. _Ortalis vetula mccalli._
Range.--Eastern portions of Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley
in Texas.
A very peculiar grayish colored bird with a greenish gloss to the back,
and a long, broad tail, quite long legs, and with the face and sides of
the throat devoid of feathers. They are very abundant birds in some
localities, and very noisy during the breeding season, their notes
resembling a harsh trumpeting repetition of their name. They are ground
inhabiting birds, but nest in low bushes. Their nests are made of
sticks, twigs, leaves, or moss and are generally frail, flat structures
only a few feet above the ground. During April, they lay from three to
five buffy white eggs, the shell of which is very rough and hard. Size
2.25 × 1.55.
[Illustration 193: Greenish buff.]
[Illustration: Buffy white.]
[Illustration: Chachalaca.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 192
PIGEONS AND DOVES. Order XI. COLUMBÆ
Family COLUMBIDAE
Pigeons and doves are distributed throughout nearly every temperate and
tropical country on the globe, nearly five hundred species being known,
of which twelve occur within our limits. Their plumage is generally soft
and subdued colors, the head small, the wings strong and the flight
rapid.
312. BAND-TAILED PIGEON. _Columba fasciata fasciata._
Range.--The Rocky Mountains and westward to the Pacific, from British
Columbia south to Mexico.