. Key to North American birds; containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary . from thedark northern form by Dr. Suckley and Mr. Elliot, who, however, incorrectlysuppose that the two forms are distinct species; they are geographical racesdiffering from each other according to well known laws of climatic variation. 181. Genus CUPIDONIA Grouse. Prairie Hen. Neck with a peculiar tuft of loose,lengthened, acuminate feathers, beneath which is a patch of bare, brightlyco
. Key to North American birds; containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary . from thedark northern form by Dr. Suckley and Mr. Elliot, who, however, incorrectlysuppose that the two forms are distinct species; they are geographical racesdiffering from each other according to well known laws of climatic variation. 181. Genus CUPIDONIA Grouse. Prairie Hen. Neck with a peculiar tuft of loose,lengthened, acuminate feathers, beneath which is a patch of bare, brightlycolored skin, capable of great distension ; tail short, rounded, of eighteenstiffish, not acuminate, feathers; tarsi barely feathered to the toes. Length16-18; wing 8-9; tail about 5. Above, A^ariegated with black, brown,tawny or ochrey, aud white, the latter especially on the wings; below,pretty regularly barred with dark brown, white aud tawny; throat tawny,a little speckled, or not; vent aud crissum mostly white ; quills fuscous, withwhite spots on the outer webs; tail fuscous, with narrow or imperfect whiteor tawny bars aud tips; sexes alike in color, but ? smaller, with shorter. Fig. U?. Foot of Prairie Hea. neck-tufts. This well known bird formerly ranged across the United States,iu open country, from the Atlantic to the Eastern foothills of the llockyMountains, and now abounds on the prairies, from Illinois aud Wisconsin,to Middle Kansas at least, if not found on the dryer plains westward. Ithas been almost extirpated iu the Middle and Eastern States, thoughit still occurs sparingly in isolated localities in New Yoik, New Jersey,Pennsylvania, Long Island, Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, etc. Itsabundance, and the excellence of its flesh, render it an object of commercialimportance. Though there may be little probability of its extinction, legis-lation against its wanton or ill-timed destruction Avould be a measure ofobvious propriety. WiLS., iii, 104, pi. 27; Nutt., i, 662
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