Part 12

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.]

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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.]

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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.

[Illustration 181: Bright buff.] [Illustration: Sooty Grouse. Spruce Grouse.] [Illustration: deco.] [Illustration: 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 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.]

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[Illustration 183: RUFFED GROUSE.]

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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.]

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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.]

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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.]

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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.]

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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.]

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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.]

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[Illustration 191: RING-NECKED PHEASANT.]

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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.]

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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.]

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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.

This large species may be generally recognized by the white crescent on the nape; it is about 15 inches in length. They nest abundantly on the mountain ranges, sometimes in large flocks, and again, only a few pairs together. Their nests are rude platforms of sticks and twigs either in bushes or in large trees in heavily wooded districts. The two eggs which are laid during May or June are pure white in color, and like those of all the pigeons, equally rounded at each end. Size 1.55 × 1.10.

312a. VIOSCA'S PIGEON. _Columba fasciata vioscæ._

Range.--Southern Lower California. This is a paler variety of the preceding species and is not noticeably different in its habits, nesting or eggs.

313. RED-BILLED PIGEON. _Columba flavirostris._

Range.--Mexico and Central America, north to southern Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

This species, characterized by its red bill, purplish colored head, neck and breast and absence of iridescent markings, is abundant in the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, where they build their frail nests in thickets and low bushes, and during May and June lay their white eggs. Size of eggs, 1.55 × 1.05.

314. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. _Columba leucocephala._

Range.--Resident of the West Indies; in summer, found on the Florida Keys. This species, which can be identified by its white crown, nests in trees or mangroves on certain of the Florida Keys, laying its two white eggs on its rude platform of sticks and twigs. Size of eggs 1.40 × 1.05. Nests in April and May.

314.1. SCALED PIGEON. _Columba squamosa._

A West Indian species, a single specimen of which was taken at Key West, Florida.

A dark colored species, with purplish head, neck and breast; named from the scaly appearance of the iridescent feathers on the sides of the neck.

[Illustration 194: White.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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315. PASSENGER PIGEON. _Ectopistes migratorius._

Range.--Formerly, North America east of the Rockies; casually seen in the upper Mississippi Valley, now extinct.