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BONASA UMBELLOIDES. E l l i o t .
ARCTIC HUFFED GROUSE.
TETRAO UMBELLOIDES. Doug., Liuu. Traos., vol. xvi., 1829, p. 148.
BONASA UilBELLOIDES. Elliot, Proceed. Acad. Nat, Scicn. (18(54), p.
Tins Grouse, so closely resembling tlic common species generally known as Ruffed Grouse that a casual observer would bo likely to confound
them, seems, however, to be entitled to specific distinctness. In the specimens before me differences exist, which are constant, and of
such a character aa leave me uo alternative but to separate this bird from I/onasa UmMlut. Iu the first place, the size is very much less, at
least one third, and there appear none of the red hues, so very conspicuous iu some specimens of the Ruffed Grouse. Also (and this is a
constant character in the specimens I have), the broad black baud cro-ving the lower part of the tail is uot coutiiuioua, but is broken by the
two centre fcathci-s, which retain their gray color sjiottcd with black, throughout their length. The markhigs of the back, in shape and
distribution, differ materially from its ally, and the ruff is not nearly as couspicuous aa is that in B. UmMlm.
Douglass, in liis Paper on the Gi-ousc in the Trammctious of the Liimeau Society, speaks of this bird, under the head of 71 HmbcUm. as
f o l l o w s “ In the valleys of the Kocky Jlountains, 54* north latitude, and a few miles northward near the sources of Peace River, a supposed
variety of this species is found,—different from T. rmheUus of ViLson. On comparing my speciuicua from that country wilh some
which I prepared in the States of New York aud Pennsylvania, aud on the shores ou the chain of lake.? in Upper Canada, I find tlic following
differences: First, tho northern bird is consUntly ouc third smaller, of a very light speckled mixed gray, having little of that rusty color so
couspicuous iu the southern b ird: secondly, the ruffle consists invariably of only twenty featliei's, tho.se short, black, and with but little azure
gloiwincss; the crest feathers arc few aud short. Sliould these characters hereafter ho considered of siifiicicnt importance for constituting
a distinct species, it might perhaps be well to call it 71 UmbeMdes." I t seems to separate the eastern from the western species, for while
the former pos.se?scs both the gray and red varieties, the latter has ouly the red, and the present species but the gr.ay. I t is distnbuted from
the South 1’iis.s of the Kocky Mountains northward throughout the entire range, and ou the slope.« as far as the woods exteuil. I t has also
been found eastward to the shores of Slave Lake.
Tbo species may be described as follows : Upper part of head aud neck brownish gray, with central foathcrs of the crest black, crassed
with irregular bars of rufous brown, a white line from the bill riiniiiiig to aud under the eye, with spot of same behind nud rather above
tbe eyes. Feathers above the ruff, of a darker shade than tlie head, broadly marked with black, a central strip of white, sometimes widening
a t the tip. Ruff moderate, glossy black, witli puiple reflections. Ujipcr part of back barred with black, and rufous, those crossing but not
including the shaft, which is reddish brown, Rest of back nud u)iper tail coverts light gray mottled with black, each feather having a black
spot termiuatiiig iu a yellowish-white, irregularly heart-shaped spot. These ave iiidistiuct upon some of the feathers, and the hlnck spot
ouly sliows through tho gray color a t iutcn-als. Tlic upper wing coverts arc reddish, with central streaks of white, these last prcdomiaatitig,
giving a very light appearance to this portion of the bii-d. Wings darker than the back, each fcatlier with a central hue of white, and the
tertials spotted with black, this last being quite conspicuous ou the iimer webs of some, while the outer webs havo very broad lines of white
next the sh.aft, and separated from the brownish gray of the outer portion by a narrow line of dark brown. Spurious iviugs dark brown,
shafts reddish brown. Primaries same color, but the outer webs have alternate marks of yellowish white ami brown. Tail light gray,
irregularly crossed by narrow, iuterrapteil bars of black, and mottled also tliroughout the entire feather with the same; a broad baud of
black crosses the tail near tho tip, but is interrupted by the two central feathers, which preserve their gray hue throughout their lougtli.
Throat white, spotted with brown ou the sides, a narrow baud of nifous, sp.itted with blaek, cros-sos the u)iper part of tlie breast. Rest
of under parts white, the feathers crosseil with bai-s of dark brown, most ilistiiict ou the flanks. Uiiilcr tail coverts dark gray irregularly
marked with faint lines of blnck, aud having very broad white ends. Under part of tail fc.athci's of a silvery gray, less distinctly mottled
and crossed with black than the upper side. I'l.pcr mandible black; mulcr inaudible horn color at base, tip black. Tarsi biowtiish wl.ite.
Feet brown.
The plate represents the two sexes of tho natural size.