CANACE FLÍANKLINIL E l l i o t .
FIMNKLIN’S GROl'SE.
T1ÍTR.70 I'TLtSKLISir. Dguj,.., Tra». Limi. !
Bilirii, U. S. Ex. Exp. P, R. K., vol.
1832, )i. 6C7.
, vol. xvi., 1829, p. 139.—Swain and Rich., Faun. Bor. Amer., vol. ii., 1831, p, 348, pi. lii.__
p. 023.—Coop, and Suckl, Nat. Hist, Wash, Territ., p. 221,—Nutt., Man. Oraith., vol. i.,
TETRAO CANADENSIS. Var. Bon. Am, Ornith., vol. iii., 1830, p. 47, pi,
TETRAO FL’SCA ? Ord. Guth. Gcog., 2d Am. edit., vol. ii., 1815, p. 317.
CANACE FRANKLINII. Elliot, Proceed. Acad, Nat. Scien. {1804), p.
UxTii. very recently, considerable doubt has been entertained by ornithologists, whether or not the pre.seut bird was a variety of the ci
Sprueo Grouse {C. Canadensis). Prince Charles Bon.ipartc, in his eontinuation of Wilson's Ornithology, give.« a figure of tho male of this
species, which came from the Rocky Mouutaius, and makes some comparisons between it and our well-known bird, closing his remarks by
di.sclninung tliat be shonlU be understood as insinuating that tbcrc were two different species. With tho limited materials th a t were at that
eminent ornithologist's comtnaiid a t the time he wrote his article, it was very natural that he should hesitate to separate these birds, since
tho difference in their plumage might possibly have been (to ttse his own words) "entirely owing to season, though it is aAserted that this species
does not vary in its plumage with the season.”
Within a short period, however, the Smithsonian Institution has, through its collectors, come into possession of specimens of both sexes
of this Grouse, and the differences in their plumage are as characteristic aud coiLsfant as are those by which the Spruce Grouse is verified.
Professor Baird, in his article on this species, contained in the ninth volume of the Pacific R. R. Report, was satisfied of the specific distinctness
of these birds; althongh he had only mutilated skins upon which to form his judgment, yet " the dilfercnce from Canadensis, however, even
in these, is .sntficiently appreciable." The species do not differ much in size, but if there is any, Franklin’s Grouse is a little the larger of
the two, but the structure of the tail feathers is quite different; those of Canadensis being much narrower and rounder a t the end, while those
of the present bird retain tbeir width tbe entire length, being square, and, if anything, rnthcr wider at the tip. The fctnalo also differs in
the color of her plumage fi'om that of Canadensis, being of a richer brown ou the breast, and in liaving the tail and upper tail coverts tipped
with white.
Dr. Sucklcy, who obtained specimens of this Gronse, says that it is '• abundant in the Rocky and Bitter Root Mountains, also found in the
Cascade Mountains, Washington Territory, near the Yakima Passes. This bird by the Indians h.is the jargon name ‘Tycc Kulla Kulla,' or
the ‘chief bird,' or perhaps more correctly, the • gentleman bird.' The specimens of ntrao FrankVmii sent by mo to the Smithsonian, were
obtained by Lieut. -I. Mull.m, U. S. A., a t the St. Mary's Valley, in the Kocky Moniitains. Lieut. Mullan stated to me that they were quite
an abundant bird in that region, and very readily kiilcd, ns they nro tame and unsuspicious."
Mr. Donginss, in the Limiean Transactions, gives the following short account of this sjiecics. lie says: " Its flight is similar to the last mentioned
(‘ Kuffcil G r o u s e th e present, however* runs over the shattcreil rocks and among the brushwood with ainnziiig speed, nnd only uses its
wings as tho last effort of escape. Nest on the gronnil, conqiosed of dead loaves and gras.s, not unfrequently a t the foot of «lecaycd stumps, or
by the side of fallen tiinbcr in the mountain woods. Eggs 5 to 7, dingy white, somewhat smaller than those of Colamha ¡mlumlms. I have never
heard the voice of this bird, exccjit its alarm note, which is two or three hollow sounds, ending in a yearning, disagreeable, grating noise, like the
latter part of the call of the well-known Numida ifekagris. I t is one of the most common birds in the valleys of the Kocky Mountains, from
latitude 50° to 54°. near the sources of the Columbia river. It may perhaps be fonnd to inhabit higher latitudes, Sparingly seen in small troo|s
on the high monntaiiis which form the h.ase or platform of the snowy peaks, • Mount Hood,’ ‘ Mount St. Helen's,’ a n d ‘Mount Baker,’ situated
on the western ¡lart.» of the continent. In habit the present sjiccies a.ssimilatcs more with T. Canadensis than any otlicr. The nnusually
long «inare tail, constanlly tipped with white, as is also the case with tho njiper and under coverts of the tail, are characters too |)romiiicnt to be
overlooked.”
I would add hero, in reference to Mr. Douglass' statement tlmt the " tail is constantly tipiied with white," that I have never seen tlmt
character in any specimen which Ims come nmlcr my observation. The Uil feathers invariably retainoii their uniform black to tbe einl,
anil it was only iqion the upper anil niidcr coverts tlmt the wliito was visible.