GROUSE (a false singular, after the analogy of louse, mouse, as singulars of lice, mice, from grice, grise, Breese, gray, from OF. griesche, gray, moor-hen, variant of gris, gray, from OHG. grin, Ger. greis, gray). A game-bird of that section of the rough-footed. gallinaceous family Tetraonicke which includes the larger forms; one of the Tetraoninm. They are distinguished among birds of their class by their completely feathered shanks (except Bonasa) ; also by the fact that feathers fill the nasal groove and conceal the nostrils. The toes usually are naked, but are feathered to the claws in ptarmigans (q.v.), and they have pectination of scales along the edges, which are deciduous. The tail-feathers are from 16 to 18 and sometimes even 22 in number; and in shape the tail is acute, rounded, or forked. The orbital region usually is somewhat bare, and there is above the upper eyelid a naked stripe, marked by short, fringe-like processes. Many genera have an inflatable air-sac on the side of the neck. Often the sides of the neck are further adorned by elongated feathers. The plumage is thick, soft, and handsome, but gay colors and patterns are absent; blacks, purples, and dark greens occur in some forms, but variegated browns, reds, and grays prevail in most species, and there is usually a considerable difference in color and ornamentation between the sexes and some seasonal changes; one genus (Lagopus) turns white in winter. (See PTARMIGAN.) The grouse, as a rule, are birds of the forest, but some genera are found in open regions only, and the ptarmigans chiefly inhabit mountain-tops.
All, however, seek their food principally and nest wholly on the ground. The food consists of seeds, berries, buds, leaves, insects, worms, small snails, and so on, varying with region, season, and opportunity. The nest is a rude bed of leaves. twigs, and the like, and from six to fifteen eggs are laid, which are brownish and spotted—among the ptarmigans very heavily. All except the ptarmigans are polygamous, and the cocks in dulge in demonstrative courtships (see CAPER CAILLIE) , make various sounds with their wings (see below), and contest fiercely for the pos session of their harems, as is the habit of most gallinaceous birds. They trust mainly to con cealment for safety, and remain motionless on the ground or perched in a tree until fear over comes their prudence, when they spring away with a startling whirr of the wings and aston ishing speed. Hence trained dogs are needed to find and flush them, and much skill in shooting is required to bring them down in flight, but some of the forest-haunting species will not leave the supposed safety of a tree-perch and are easily killed. They are favorites of sportsmen wherever they occur, and all are most excellent eating, except the few whose flesh is tainted by their bitter or resinous food. Great numbers are shot for the markets in all northern countries. A brief account of the principal species follows: