I
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BONASAl SxVBINEI. B a t h d ,
S.ARISE'S GliOUSE,
TETRAO SABINEI. Doiig., Tvuiis. Linn. Sociot., vol. .vvi. (1829), p. 139.—Swniii. & Rich., Paun. Bor. Amur,, vol. ii., p. 313 (1831).
TETRAO UMBELLUS. Nowb., Zool. Cal. & Oiog. Route. Kcp. 1’. R. R. Snrv., vol. vi„ p. 94 (1857).
BONASA SABINEI. Baird, U. S. P. K. R. E.xp. & Surv,, vol. ix. p. C31.—Ib, Birds of Nortii America, p. C30.—Coop. & Suckl, Nat. Hist.
Wash. Territ., p. 224.—Elliot, I’roc. Acad. Nat, Scion., 1804.
This liaiidsome bird, an inhabitant of the wcstei'ii portion of our continent, is very ooinmon on tlie coast of W’asliington and Oregon Territories,
and also in Vancouver’s Island.
It loscinblcs in its habits the Uuffcd Grouse of the inoro castoi n States, anil frequents wooded and monntainous districts; but on account
of tho dense cover in wliich it chiefly remains, it is approached with difflculty.
Ill the spring, tiie drumming of tlie male may lie hoard in the early morning, snmmoning the hens into his presence. This noise, resembling
the rolling of a distant drniii, is produced by rapid and violent bcnthig of the wings, and can be distinguished a considerable way off.
Tlic females soon assemble, and no doubt greatly admire the pompous bearing of their lord, as ho struts with expanded tail before them,
The species is ¡lol^'gnmoiis; the male deserting the females during the period of incubation, and leaving the young brood entirely to
their watchful eai-e. The nest is placed in some thicket, tlic better to conceal its contents from tlio piying eyes of some thieving crow or
raven, cither of which liavc a decided weakness for making a meal upon the eggs.
The yoimg run as soon as they are hatclied, and, a t the slightest note of alarm from their vigilant motbcr, squat, and lie so still and close to
tlie ground as to render it no easy nndcvtaking to discover them.
Douglass iras the fust to constitute this bird as distinct from the comnion Boimsa Uinbelliis, on account priiicipaily of iW dark red
color, and tlic absence of any of the gray hues so prevalent in the eastern species. Prof. Baird, in tho Birds of North America, is also
inclined to consider it entitled to spccilic disthictiicss, basing liLs opinion not only on the color of the plumage, but also upon tiie great
length of the middle toe.
If this last charnctcr was confined to the western bird exclusively, it would undoubtedly, in conjunction with tho difforoncc in color, be
a good reason for giving it n .specific value; but as an equal length of tho too can also be found in tho Knifed Gronse, it would seem best
not to take that into consideration ; and therefore this bird’s claini.s for separation would rest upon the color of its [ilumagc.
At tho present time, it would seem that no specimen has been obtained, among the varying examples of the Boiiasa Uinbellus, on
tho eastern coast, ivliioh presents tlio deep rieti hues of the typical form of Bonasa Saliinoi; and as the Bonasa UinbcUoides, an apparently
good and distinct species, inhabits an intermediate region, it is pcrliaiis best to retain the ivcstern form under llic appellation given to it by
Douglas.s, rather tlian to consider it merely a variety of the comnion B. Uinbellus,
Still, if a t some ftitnvc period examples should be procured west of the Rocky Jlountahis, |>osscssing the different variations, from these
deep rod colors, to the light gray so perceptible in some spocimons of tho Ruffed Grouse, the conclusion would be a natural one to consider
the birds inhabiting botb sides of tlio continent as but one spccios; altliough the singular fiiet would remain, that they iverc divided
by a different and smaller species,
I regret tliat sufficient material from tlio west coast lias not yet been obtained to settle this question satisfactorily.
The flcsli of Sabine’s Gronse is wliitc, tender, and well flavored, in no way inferior, I believe, to th a t of its onstorn relative; and as
tiie forests of tlioso distant regions arc gradually thinned by the axe of the hardy pioneer, iiiul tho pursuit of these hh-ds is rendered less
dilficult, then uiiclouhtcdly they will become as inucli an object of attention to the sportsman as arc the Ruffed Grouse iu our more
thickly populated States a t tho present day.
My plate represents the two sexes, of the natural size; and they may be described as follows;
Goneval color dark orange chestnut, mottled upon the bock and wings witli black, each feather having a distinct central streak of
reddish white. Ileail and neck lighter than tho body; flanks reddish ycllo'v, barred witli black, and having the central marks of
reddish white. Rrimarics dark voddisli brown, mottled on the outer ivcbs witli reddisli yclloiv, Tlie tail, dark red, is tipped ivitli
gray, « itli a snbtcrininal bar of black, beyond which is another line of gray, followed bj’ eight or ten iri'cgular iiaviow bars of black.
The under tail coverts are orange chestnut indistinctly barred witli black, terminating with an angular while spot. Tufts on sides of
the neck dark metallic green. Feathers on the thighs and tai-si reddi.sh gray. Bill dark brown, feet ycllowi.sli.