Genus BONASA, Stephens.
- Bonasa, Stephens, Shaw’s Gen. Zoöl. XI, 1819. (Type, Tetrao bonasia, L.)
- Tetrastes, Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Europ. 1840, p. lxiv.
Gen. Char. Tail widening to the end, its feathers very broad, as long as the wings; the feathers soft, and eighteen in number. Tarsi naked in the lower half; covered with two rows of hexagonal scales anteriorly, as in the Ortyginæ. Sides of toes strongly pectinated. Naked space on the side of throat covered by a tuft of broad soft feathers. Portion of culmen between the nasal fossæ about one third the total length. Top of head with a soft crest.
This genus, in its partly naked tarsi, with two rows of scutellæ anteriorly, indicates a close approach to the American Partridges, or Quails. It has a single European representative, the B. sylvestris, Steph.
Species and Varieties.
B. umbellus. Rump with cordate light spots; sides with transverse dark spots. Tail with two gray bands (one terminal), with a broad blackish zone between them. Cervical tufts glossy black or dark brown, with a semi-metallic steel-blue or green border.
Prevailing color bright ochraceous-rufous; tail always rufous in the Middle and Southern States, occasionally gray on the Alleghany Mountains, and in New England States; usually gray in Eastern British America. Hab. Eastern Province of North America … var. umbellus.
Prevailing color bluish-ashy; tail always pale ash. Hab. Rocky Mountains of United States, and interior regions of British America, to the Yukon … var. umbelloides.
Prevailing color dark ferruginous; tail always dark ferruginous near the coast, occasionally dark gray in mountainous regions. Hab. Northwest coast region (Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, etc.) … var. sabini.