TETRAONID®. 3.49
of both, and he assures us that he is not aware of any difference between them.
Mr. Douglas, on the other hand, who has also seen these birds in their native
regions, thinks differently; and although he observes that in habit it assimilates
more with T . Canadensis than any other, he considers the unusual y
long, square tail,” and its colouring, as sufficiently distinctive characters. In
our specimens the tail is not longer' than in Canadensis; and did we look to the
colouring alone, however strikingly different it is in the two birds, we should be
disposed to class them as varieties. But a more accurate examination will detect
some essential differences in the structure of the feathers themselves: those of
Canadensis are more graduated, giving the tail a rounder appearance ; and they
are all slightly, but distinctly emarginate in the middle, from whence rises a little
mucro or point, formed by the end of the shafts. Now this emargination is not
seen in Franklinii, nor is there any appearance of the mucro. _ASaln’ m
latter bird the tail feathers are much broader, fully measuring one inch and a hit
across - whereas those of Canadensis are barely one inch broad. Until, therefore,
we become persuaded that distinctions drawn from structure are not to be
relied upon, we must coincide with Mr. Douglas in considering the present as a
distinct This sbpiredci eisn.h—abSiwts. the valleys of the Rocky Mountains from the sources of the
Missouri to those of the Mackenzie, and Mr. Douglas informs us that it is
sparingly seen on the elevated platforms which skirt the snowy peaks of Mount
Hood, Mount St. Helen’s, , and Mduht Baker. He adds, | It runs over the shattered rocks and among the brushwood with amazing speed, and only uses
its wino-s as a last effort to escape. It forms its nest on the. ground, of dried
leaves and grass, not ««frequently at the foot of decayed stumps, or by he side
of fallen timber in the mountainous woods. The eggs are dingy w 1 e, an
somewhat smaller than those, of Colwmba palumbus.”— ~R.
DESCRIPTION
Of a male, killed near the sources of the Athabasca, lat. 56°.
C olour —Plumage of- a mature male Tetrtw Canadensis, except that six pairs of upper
M are broadly tipped .with white, and the tail is a little longer and wants the orange-
coloured terminal band. The middle pair of tail feathers are narrowly tipped with white, as
is sometimes the case in T. Canadensis, particularly the , females. The ends of the tail
feathers are more truncated and their webs broader than in the latter bird. The female
can scarcely be .distinguished from the female T. Canadensis.