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.

[Ill.u.s.tration 179: Creamy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: California Partridge.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 178

296. MEARNS QUAIL. _Cyrtonyx montezumae 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 gra.s.ses and concealed by overhanging tufts of gra.s.s. 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, spa.r.s.ely 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration 180: Mearns Partridge.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Rich buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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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.

[Ill.u.s.tration 181: Bright buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sooty Grouse. Spruce Grouse.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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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 sh.e.l.l. 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration 182: Brownish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ruffed Grouse.]