, 1874-11-14


OF the cloven BpocioH OF grouse, known by a
creator number Of common names, only two are
general III Illinois, wnlo THRU was nt one time
generously distributed over the northwestern
counties Of this Statc. 4cfcnc8 has rctltced tho
whole nunbor OF American EronHo to six genera,
ard tho authoritles OH ornsthology have 70
u!ainly classified th0M, that no farther confn-
alDn nacd occur aB to wpat should be considered
GrouHo. Whit Ia known by so1no 40 tho Quai1
is called Partridge in aome localitioa, mud in
others tho partridBe iB called Pheasant. and
tho eleyon different grouse aro known by csght-
teen different common names, wiitio tho 1nail
arc only allied to tho grouse genera. aud arc
really tho partridge family, Of aeven American
BpeoioB. oniy ono OF which, the quail (totrao
coturnix) or '"hob white" Ii known in Illinois
Of In tho Eastern Unltod States.
The two Illinois grouse arc: First, tho prairie
hen or pinuatod grouse, known in tho State Of
Nov Yor!. ns far bnck as 179l as the "leatl-
hon." and now scientifically known as cupidonia
cup.do. Second. tile pheasant or ratlled GROUSE.
ncicntihcaIly kuown ~ Dondssus am1ellns. Tho
third (no longer M Illinois gan1c-biid), the sharp
tailed grouse. known III late authorities na Iedi-
ocates phusiancll,,s. Strange as il mny appear,
boon described by authors undor. fifteen dill
ferout scientific names within th5 last 1U0
years. Tho prairie hen, or plnnased grouso,
is too vol known by every one to ncud Il deBcrp-
known in Illinols} il found l,n Iora and Dakota,
Sioux Hlyor. It differs from the prairie. lou III
having tho uude1-part white; stoutcr bill; foa!h-
ored to tho baae of tue. toes, moro wedge.
shaped tail; with central feathers elongated !;
feathers mnrkcd with V-shaped white spotH. cs-
peoinlly on tho breast. and ntBo soma U-ehaped
markings 1t is nearly as largo, aud iu aaino in
stnncos, though very rarely, exceeds the prairie
hen In size. The ueat, udllko the prairio llon,
nois grouse, ii hus Il tail Of eighteen feathers.
The phoasant, scientifically known us DoRass,ss
ssn,deNtts, also called tho partridge, ID smaller
bird, and wna at ono time quite abundant along
tic heavily y-tlmbcrod aud ilily portions Of tho
Illinois River. It IL got caaily found lu tho moro
esn counties. But this bird, like tho sharp
tailed grouse Ia Boon to be thing Of the paHt iu
ll,aois.
Dcacripton-Length, IS inchea; alar OK
panse, a Inches head nock, aud crest black,
atld pa!o chestnut In SPOTS and bars; lo'Ter part
OF back and rusap, dusRy, feathers broadly tor
uinatcd with chestnut md groy, notified
with duaky, round.ah pnscr spots toward
tho ends Of tho feathers; black ruff.
presenting violet reflections coyorts OF
wing, more 1aot.lol nnd rufous, h numhor Of
tho tortla's with oblong whtlsll brown auots on
thu outer webs only; primaries, ,pale-duaky
innor webs, brownsh white with dark sposa /;
fourth primary longest. long auxiliary feathers,
dusky spots boloH the feathe1s. with pale-rufosss
and gray bars, and broad, white tips; downy
vent feashors, nearly nbito; lower tall-coyerts
pale-rufous, inverse arrow-heads Of white
tlauhs most distinctly barred; fcct and bill, pale
livid-btuwn iris, hAxUl III 1nat'y bifds tail o.
most wholly gray male, ruff, brond. black foath,
era on sides OF neelt female, ruff. amaller
dusly brown.-Audubot, wilson, Boaaparte ant
NuttaN.
Tic mountainous regions OF tho Middle States
wore tho usual preferred residence OF tho ruifol
grouss {eallsd tho partridge in Connecticut and
Eastward), and although it IL known to opce
have extonded over tho whole breadth Of tht
continent. northward aB far rs the ifty-alxt
parallel, and sonthward 10 Texas, Mr.. Audubon
saye that there wero portions Of Bouth Carolins
In which it never existed. It's fash Ia white
aud very tender, It ia mid by snme porsona
that their 1losh ts poisonous after thoy have cat
Gu the loavas Of tho laurel {kaln,ia tatifoIia)
but Mr. Audubon appears to doubt this. It i
tho only one Of tho species, and In fact the only
bird that produces the " drumming or thunder
like noisp in tho sooaiitios where It exists. Il IL
yory shy aud takes wing at tho slightest intru
sion. should a sportsman ever be fortunate
enough 10 see ono BtrutsnE and drumming, Ii
would over after hesitate boforo he shot ono. I
may bn safe}y saia TINT they nro not only tht
proudest. but tho hantlso,ncst game bird on tllis
continent They aro rarely IL ever foaud i.
tlooks Of more than four to ak, ald oftonor iron
ono to three.