GROUSE, tetrao, a genus of gallinaceous birds, which, as defined by Linnaeus, included partridges, quails, and all the birds now forming the family tetraonidce, and divided into many genera. The let/won/dm have a very short bill, rather thick, sharp, and a little curved, and very generally a naked red patch over or behind the eye. They have three toes before, and generally one hind toe, placed high on the tarsus, but the hind toe is often very short, and sometimes wanting. Those to which the name Grouse is popu larly given have the legs feathered to the feet, but in the genus tetrao, as now restricted by ornithologists, the toes are not feathered; in moorfowl and ptarmigan, they are com pletely so, and these have therefore been separated into a distinct genus, lagopus. Par tridges, quails, etc., which have not the tarsi feathered, are regarded as connecting the families tetraonitice and phasianicke, and are sometimes referred to the latter, although their intimate connection with the former is generally recognized. Some of the telraonidce are polygamous, and this is the case with all, or almost all, the species of the genus tetrao, whilst those of la gapus, so nearly allied to them, pair.—The genus ithwe contains the largest birds of the family, exceeded iu this respect by almost no other gallinaceous birds, They have a full figure, with much muscular power, the tail is longer than in most of the family, is composed of broad feathers, and generally rounded. The females differ very considerably in plumage from the males, which are often resplendent in black, brown, green, and blue. The species are natives of the northern and temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and America, the regions in which the tetraonicfie in general are most abundant, although some of the family are found in warmer and more southern countries.—The largest species of tetrao is the capercailzie (q.v.), Wood grouse, or cock of the woods (T. urogallus); and next to it, among European species, ranks the blackcock (q.v.): (T. tetrir), the only other European species indeed, if the somewhat rare T. hytpridus of continental Europe, the racklehahn of the Swedes (see BLACKCOCK), be regarded as the result of a mere accidental intermixture of these two. —The PINNATED GROUSE, or PRAIRIE HEN (T. cupido) of North America, is rather smaller than the blackcock; the general color of the plumage is yellowish-red, with bars and crossings of black; the tail is very short and much rounded. The male has neck tufts of narrow feathers, the largest of which are five inches long, and is still more remarkably adorned with two loose pendulous wrinkled skins, extending along the sides of the neck for two-thirds of its length, capable of inflation with air, and when inflated, resembling in bulk, color, and surface, middle-sized oranges. This species of grouse
chiefly inhabits dry open districts, studded with trees or patches of brushwood. It was at 'one time common in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as in the western prairies, but has always become rare as a district has become cultivated and populous, notwith standing laws in some cases enacted for its preservation. It has almost disappeared from the state of Kentucky, where it was at one time so extremely abundant, that chil. firer were constantly employed to prevent its depredations in the cultivated fields, and Multitudes were shot and trapped merely to be thrown away. In the north-eastern parts of the United States it exists, but is not abundant. It congregates in flocks in winter, which break up into smaller parties in spring. The males have many combats at the approach of the breeding season. Their voice is described as a low tooting or boonzing. They strut, after the manner of turkey-cocks, with wings let down to the ground, and neck-feathers erected. Certain spots, known in the western parts of America, as their scratching-places. seem to be specially appropriated for their displays and combats, and there considerable numbers often meet about daybreak, dispersing again after the sun is up. Many are shot on such occasions. The food of the pinnated grouse consists of seeds, berries, the buds of trees and bushes, insects, etc. It is highly prized for the table in those parts of America where it is rare. The flesh resembles that of the blackcock.—The SPOTTED GROUSE, or CANADIAN GROUSE (T. Ganadensis), is smaller than the pinnated grouse, about equal to the Scottish moorfowl. It inhabits the northern parts of America, and is plentiful near Hudson's bay. It is chiefly found in forests of pine or fir, feeding much in winter on the leaves and branehlets of these trees, as well as on their seeds, whence it is often called the spruce partridge. From this food the flesh acquires a strong and peculiar flavor in winter. The plumage of the upper parts is mostly brownish-black, transversely barred with brownish-gray: in sonic parts varying to a rusty orange. The tail is rounded.—The DUSKY GROUSE (T. obscurus) is a species almost as large as the capercailzie, a native of the shady forests of the Rocky mountains and the banks of the Columbia. The general color is blackish-brown, the wings lighter. The tail is large and rounded.—The MoourowL (q.v.), or RED GROUSE of Britain, is allied to the ptarmigans rather than to these species, and is called red ptarmigan by some systematic writers, although it is the species to which, in popular language, the name grouse is almost exclusively appropriated in Britain. Other species, often popularly called grouse, are noticed in the articles BONASIA, COCK OF TILE PLAINS, GANGA, SYRRHAPTES, etc: