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OANACE ERANKLIENI. E l l io t .
FRANKIilN’S GROUSE,
TETRAO FEAXKLINII. Doug., Traus. Limi. Soc., vol. .xvi., 1829, p. 139.—Swaiii and Rich., Fauu, Dor. Ainer., vol. ii,, 1831, p. 348, pi. Ixi,—
Bail'd, U. S. E.X. Exp. P. R. R., vol. ix., p. 623.—Coop, aud Suckl,, Nat. Hist. IVasli. Tei'rit., p. 221.—Nutt., Man. Ornith., vol. i.,
1832, p. 607.
TETRAO CANADENSIS. Vav. Bou. Am. Oraith., vol. iii., 1880, p. 17, pi. xxi. S .—Ib. Syn. 1828, p. 127.
TETIUO FUSCA ? Ord. Gutli. Gcog., 2d Am. edit., vol. ii., 1816, p, 317.
CANACE FRANKLINII. Elliot, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Scieu. (1864), p.
UxTii. very recently, considevablc doubt lias been entertained by ornithologists, whether or not tho present bird was a variety of the common
Spruce Gi'onso (O. Canadensis). Prince Charles Bonaparte, in his continuation of WUson's Ornithology, gives a figure of the male of this
species, which came from the Rocky Mountains, and makes some comparisons between it aud our woll-kiiowu bird, closing his remarks by
disclaiming that he should be understood as insinuating that there were two different species. With the limited materials th a t were a t that
eminent ornithologist's command a t tiie time he wrote his article, it was very natural th a t lie should hesitate to separate those birds, since
the difference in tbeir plumage miglit pos.sibly have been (to use bis own words) “ entirely owing to season, though it is asserted that this species
does not vary in its plumage with the season.”
AVithin a short period, hoM'cvcr, the Smithsonian Institution has, through its collectoi-s, come into pos-scssion of specimens of both sexes
of tills Grouse, and the differences in their plumage are as characteristic and constant as ai-o those by which the Spruce Grouse is verified.
Professor Baird, in his article on tliis species, contained in the ninth volume of the Pacific R. R. Report, was satisfied of the specific distinctness
of these birds; although he liad only mutilated skins upon wliich to form his jndgmeiit, yet “ the difference from Canadensis, liou-ever, even
in these, is sufficiently appreciable." The species do not differ much in size, but if there is any, Franklin’s Grouse is a little tlic larger of
tho two, but tlio struetui'c of tlie tail featlicrs is quite different; tlioso of Canadensis being much narrowor and I'onndcr at tho end, while tliose
of the present bird retain tbcir widtli tlio entire length, being square, ami, if anything, ratlici- ividor a t tiie tip. The female also differs in
the color of her plumage from that of Canadensis, being of a richer broivu on the breast, aud in having the tail aud upper tail covci-ts tijiped
with white.
Di', Sucklcy, who obtained 8)>ccimcns of this Gronse, says that it is “ abundant in the Rocky and Bitter Root Monntaiiis, also found in the
Cascade Momitains, Washington Territory, iicar the Yakima Passes, This bird by the Indians has the jargon name ‘Tyco Kulla Kulla,' or
the ‘chief bird,’ or perhaps more coiTcctly, tiic ‘gentleman bird.' The specimens of Tch-ao Franklinii sent by mo to the Smithsonian, were
obtained by Lieut. J. Mullan, U. S. A., a t the St, Mary's Talley, in the Kocky Monntaiiis, Lieut. .Mullan stated to me th a t tliey wore quite
an abundant bird in that region, and very vcndily killed, as they are tame and nnsnspicious."
Mr. Douglas.1, in the Limicaii Transactions, gives tlic following short account of tliis species. Ho says; “ Its flight is similar to the last meii-
tionod (‘ Ruffed Grouse’); the pi'csciit, hoivcvei')ii'mi8 over the shattered rocks and ainoiig the brushwood with amazing speed, and only uses its
wings as the last effort of escape. Nest on the ground, composed of dead leaves and grass, not unfrequcntly a t the foot of decayed stumps, or
by the side of fallen timber in tiie mountain woods. Eggs 5 to 7, dingy white, someivliat smaller than those of Columba jmlumbus. 1 have never
hoard the voice of this bird, except its alarm note, «'liicli is tw o or tbrcc hollow sounds, ending in a yearning, disagreeable, grating noise, like the
latter part of the cull of the well-known Numida Mcleagris. I t is one of the most common birds in the I'alloys of the Rocky Mountains, fi'om
latitude 50° to 54°, near tlic sources of tlio Columbia river. It may pei'liaps be found to iiilialiit higher latitudes. Sparingly seen in small troops
on the high iiionntains which foiiii tho base or )>Iatfonii of the snowy peaks, ‘Mount ITood,’ ' Mount St. Helen’s,’ and ‘Mount Baker,’ situated
on the western ¡larts of tlie continent. In habit the present species assimilates more with T. Canadensis than any other. Tlio unusually
long square tail, constantly tipped witli white, as is also tho case with the upper and under coverts of the tail, are charactci's too prominent to be
overlooked.”
I would add licrc, in reference to Mr. Douglass’ statement that the " ta il is constantly tipped with white,” th a t I have never seen that
charaotei' in any specimen which lias come under my observation. Tlic tail feathers invariably retained their uniform black to the end,
and it was only upon tlie upper and midei' coverts tliat the wliite was visible.
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