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DENDEAGAPUS OBSOUEUS, E l l io t .
DUSKY GROUSE.
TETKAO OBSCURUS. Say. Long. Exp. Rocky Mts., vol. ii., 1833, p. 14.—Boii. Syn., 1828, p. 127.—Ib. Mon. Tctrao, Am. Pliil, Trans., vol. iii.,
1330, p. 391.—Ib. Amer. Ornith., vol. iii., 1S28, PI. xviii.—Ncwb. Rep. P. R, R, Snrv., vol. vi., 1857, p. 93.—Gray, Gen, of Birds,
vol. iii.—Baird, P. R. R. Exp, and Surv. Zool,, vol. ix., p. 020.—G. K. Gray, Cat. Birds, Brit. Mus., Part iii., p. 40 (1844).—Bon.
Gcog. and Comp. Li.st Birds, p. 43, No. 283.—Coop, and Suckl. Nat. Hist. Wash, Territ,, p. 218.
CANACB OBSCURUS. Boup. Conipt, Rend,, vol. xlv., 1857, p. 428.
DENDRAQAPUS OBSCURUS. Elliot, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Scieu, (1864), p.
The Dusky, Blue, or Pine Grouse, by either or all of ivliich names it is known, is next in size to the Cock-of-thc-plnins, of tho American
portion of this family, and like that species is also an inhabitant of the Western part of the United States. But it differs from the Sage Cock,
whicii is a prairie-loving bird, in making its homo amid tho mountains and dense spruce forests. I t is very abundant in tho main chain of tho
Rocky Mountains, the Black Hills of Nebraska, the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, and thence to the Pacific, wherever the country is wooded
sufflcicutly to afford it slieltcr.
The male, like several otlicr species of American Gronse, possesses the power of inflating a sack on each side of its neck, and producing a
mournful sound by exbansting the air iu the same. Thus, in tho spring, where ttiese birds are plcuty, tliis peculiar call may be beard on every
side, and, like tlio drnmming of the Rnffcd Grouse {Bonasa TJmbcllus), it seems to possess tho power of I'entriloqnism; for slionld you seek tho
bird, guided by tlio noise, yon would probably discover tliat it came from quite a different direction from that apparently indicated by the .sound.
In November the Dusky Grouse are generally missed from their accustomed haunts, and ivill not be met iiitli again, save pcrliaps now and
tlien a straggler, until the following spring. This disiippcarance has given rise to many theorie-s among the inbabitauts of the regions in wliich
it dwells; one of which is similar to that formerly entertained of tho swallow, that tliey pass tho winter in a state of torpidity, not, however,
iu this case, in the niiid, but among tho tliick-clustci-ing foliage of the evergreens. I t is a well-known fact, th a t the Rnfled Grouse, as the
winter grows severe, leaves the mountain sides, where it has perhaps passed tlie summer, and descends to the w'annor temperature of the tliick
swamps, there to remain until the ice melts under the rays of tlie voturiiiiig sun. And without doubt the present species also leaves its summer
haunts, and cither descends to tlic milder climate of tlic valleys, or migi-atcs to a limited extent sontliward.
My fi-icnd Dr. Geo. Siicklcy, in his Natural History of Washington Territory, gives tlic following interesting account of the disappearance
and habits of this Grouse:
* * * * “ In tlic autumn, about November latli, they generally disappear, and it is rare indeed to sec a single individual of tho species
during the interval between th a t iioriod and about Mai-cli 20tli of the following year. Concerning the whereabouts of this bird during
the w inter, there are many opinions among tho settlers. Some maintain th a t the s))coies is migratory, and that they retire to the south,
while otbci-s say tliat they rci'air to tlic tops of tlio highest evergreen trees, where, in the tliickcst foliage of the branches, they pass the
cold season in a state of semi-torpor, rarely or never descending until warm w’cathcr comes on. As they subsist well on the leaves of
tlio conifcnc, and can always obtain snflicient water fi'om tlic snow and rain drops on the leaves to supply tlicir necessities, I have but
little doubt that tliis latter is tho correct account, ov that, if migratory, they arc but pariially so.
“ I saw one bird of tliis species on tho gromid during a fall of snow, in January, 1854, near the Nisqually River, Washington Territory
; and 1 liavc been told that a man near Olynqiia, Washington Territory, whose cijcsighl is excellent, is able any day during the
w inter to obtain sovcnil birds by sciircbing carefully for tlicm in tho tops of the tallest and most thickly leaved Ill's. Tliis requires eyesight
of greater power than most men possess.
“ Even in the summer, when tliosc birds are generally lower in the trees, it is very diflieult to find them among the dense branches.
They have, in addition to their sombre hues, the advantage of their habit of crow'dhig very closely to the limbs, and of sitting almost immovably
for hours, Tho first indication, in tho spring, of tbcir arrival (?) or actii ity (?), is tlic courting call of the male. This call is a
[uolongcd noise, sounding much like tlic whir of a rattan cane whirled suddenly tlirongli tho aii'. I t is repeated quickly several times, and
then stops for a brief interval. This noise is said to bo produced by inflating and contracting a couple of sacks on each side of the
throat, w-lacli arc for the mo.st part concealed when collapsed, and are covered by an orange-yellow, thick, corrugated, unfeathered skin.