Family Tetraonide
GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC.
Of the two hundred species contained in this family, one hundred belong in the subfamily Perdicinæ or Old-World Partridges and Quails, sixty in the subfamily Odontophorinæ or New-World Partridges and Bob-whites, and twenty-five in the subfamily Tetraoninæ or Grouse, inhabiting the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. Generally speaking, these birds are non-migratory, though there are some striking exceptions among the Perdicinæ. After the nesting season they commonly gather in "coveys" or bevies, usually composed of the members of but one family. In some species these bevies unite or "pack," forming large flocks. As a rule, they are terrestrial, but may take to trees when flushed, while some species habitually call and feed in trees. They are game birds par excellence, and, trusting to the concealment afforded by their dull colors, attempt to avoid detection by hiding rather than by flying, or, in sportsman's phraseology, "lie well to a dog." Their flight is rapid and accompanied by a startling whirr, caused by the quick strokes of their small, concave, stifffeathered wings. A. Tarsi bare KEY TO THE SPECIES. 289. Boв-WHITE. 289a. FLORIDA BOB-WHITE.
B. Upper third or half of tarsi feathered. 300. RUFFED GROUSE. 300a. CANADA RUFFED GROUSE.
C. Tarsi entirely feathered, toes bare. a. With bunches of elongated, stiffened feathers springing from either side 305. PRAIRIE HEN. 306. HEATH HEN. of the neck b. Feathers of neck normal. 61. Outer web of primaries spotted with white. 62. Primaries not spotted with white D. Tarsi and toes entirely feathered 308b. PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 298. CANADA GROUSE. 301. PTARMIGAN and races. 289. Colinus virginianus (Linn.). BOB-WHITE; QUAIL; PARTRIDGE. Ad. & in winter.- Upper parts varying from reddish brown to chestnut; interscapulars with broken and sometimes complete black bars; inner vane of tertials widely margined with cream-buff; rump grayish brown, finely mottled, and with a few streaks of blackish; tail ashy gray, the inner feathers finely mottled with buffy; front of the crown, a band from the bill to beneath the eye, and a band on the upper breast black; throat and a broad line from the bill over the eye white; sides rufous-chestnut, margined with black and white; lower breast and belly white barred with black. Ad. & in winter.-Similar, but the throat and line over the eye, forehead, and lores pale ochraceous-buff; little or no black on the upper breast. Summer examples GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. of both sexes have the crown blacker, the buffy markings generally paler. L., 10.00; W., 4·50; T., 2.50; B. from N., 35.