JJENDllAGArUS OBSOUEUS. E l l i o t .
DUSKY GliOUSE.
TETRAO ORSCURCS. Say. Long. Exp, Rocky MU., vol. ii., 183.3, p. U.—Bon, Syn., 1826, p. 127.—Ib. Mon. Tctrao, Am, riiil, Ti'aus,, vol. iii.,
1830, p. 391.—Ib, Amer. Oruith., vol. iii., 1828, PI. xviu,—Ncwb. Rep. P. R. R. Surv., vol. vi„ 1857. p. 93.—Gray, Gcu. of Birds,
vol. iu,—Baird, P. K. R. Exp. and Surv. Zool., vol. ix., p. 020.—G. R. Gray, Cat. Birds, Brit. Mu.«,, Part iii., p. 4C (1844).—Bon.
Gcog, and Comp. List Birds, p. 43, No. 283.—Coop, and Suckl. Nat. Hist. Wash, Territ., p. 218.
CANACE OBSCURUS. Bonp. Comjit. Rend., vol. xlv., 1857, p. 428.
DENDRAGAPUS OBSCURUS. Elliot, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1804), p.
The Dusky, Blue, or Pino Grouse, by cither or all of whicli names it is known, is next iu size to tho Cock-of-tlic-plains, of tho American
portion of this family, aud liko that sjiecics is also au inhabitant of the Wc.«tern part of tho United States. But it differs from the Sago Cock,
which is a prairic-loviug bird, in making it* home amid the mouutaius aud dense spruce forests. I t is very alumdant iu tlic main chaiu of tho
Rocky Mouutaius, tho Black Hills of Nebraska, the Ca.«cado Mountains of Oregon, and thence to the Paciflc, wherever the country is wooded
sufficiently to afford it shelter,
The male, like several other species of American Grouse, pos*cs.«es the power of inflating a sack ou each side of its neck, aud producing a
mournful sound by exhausting the air in the same. Tl.us, in the spring, where th«*m birds arc plenty, this peculiar call may he heard ou every
side, aud, Ukc tlie drumming of the Ruffed Grouse [Bonasa Umhellas), it seems to poa«ess the power of ventriloquism; for should you seek tho
bird’, guided by the noise, you would probably discover that it came from quite a different directiou from lliat apparcutly indicated by tlic sound.
In November the Dusky Grouse arc generally mi?.scd from their accustomed liaunU, aud will uot be mot with again, save perhaps now and
thou a straggler, until the following spring. This disappearance lias given rise to many theories amoug tlic inhabitants of the regions iu which
it dwells; ouc of which is similar to that foinicrly entertaiiied of tlie swaUow, that they puss the winter iu a state of toqiidity, not, however,
iu this case, iu the mud, but among the tliick-clustciing foliage of the evergreens. I t is a well-kiiowii fact, th a t the Hum'd Grouse, aa tho
winter grows severe, leaves the moimtaiu sides, wliere it has pcrliai« ¡lassed the summer, and descends to the warmer temperature of tho thick
swamps, there to remain until the ice melts under the rays of the vetuniiug sun. Aii.l without doubt the present species also leaves iU summer
haunt*, aud either descends to the milder climate of the valleys, or migrates to a limited extent southward.
My friend Dr. Gco. Silckley, in his Natural History of Washington Territory, gives the following i.iterostiug account of tho disai.poaranco
and habits of this Grouse;
* » • • • ' Iu the autumn, about November 15th, they generally di*a)>pear, and it is rave indeed to see a single individual of the siiocies
during the interval betw-ecn th a t period and about March 20tU of the following year. Concerning tl.e whereabouts of this bird during
the winter there are many opinions among the settlers. Some maintain that the species is migratory, and that they retire to the south,
while othere s,ay tlmt they re,,air to the tops of the highest evergreen trees, where, in the thickest foliage of the branches, they ,.ns.s the
cold season iu a su te of semi-torpor, rarely or never descending until wavui weather comes on. As they subsist well ou the leaves of
the conifer®, and can always obtain sufficient water from tho snow and rain drops on tlie leaves to supply their necessities, I have but
little doubt that tliis latter is the correct account, or that, if migratoiy, they arc but partialhi so.
“ I saw one bird of this species ou tl.e ground during a fall of snow, in Jnuuan-, 1854, near the Nisqually River, Washington Tern-
s able any day during tho
tory ; aud I have been told that a man uear Olympia, Washington Territory, wl.ose egrsiyht is exccllcut, is >
winter to obtain several birds by searching carefully for them iu tho tops of the tallest aud n
^ 'e‘ ™ r i l " TC I«” » ' i" *'» » >■ '-“ 'I
it thickly leaved firs. This requires eyesight
T h „ l„ v i in .adilion to thoir .ombro h o«, tho .iv .n l.g o o t thoir i.nhit of crow,iii,E vorj cio.oiy to tho Ihnh.., „„.i of .itli.s .Imo.l
movobiy tor h e r . , Th. II,« to iic.tlo ., ih th . .prins, " f thoir orrivol (!) or ootivll; (!), i, tho eo .rti„s o.Il of tho „»lo. TI„. o.h ,. .
proIooEoi „01.0, .o„„di„E ,„„ol. III. tho whir of . r.tlon c„„o whlol.d „„Mooly ll,ro„Eh tho oir. It i. ropo.to.l ,,.i.k ly ..v .r .l „„d
th .„ . to » for „ briof i„torv„l. Thl. „oi.o I. .„id to b . prod.ocl by inll.ti.E .,„1 eo„t,,oli„E „ oooplo of «rck. «„ o.oh .,do of th.
throhl whioh nro for th . mo.l p .r t oo,...„l.,l ,vh.„ coll.p..d, .„ d . r . ..v .r.,1 by or.tog.-y.llo,., thi.k, .o ,r„s„ t.d , .„ f..,lh .,.d ,l,„ .