Wood Grouse

Before passing to the more important members of this group we may mention briefly the Wood Grouse, or Long-tailed Partridges (Dendrortyx), of which some six or seven forms are known, ranging through Mexico to Costa Rica. They are large birds for the group, some of them reaching a length of fifteen inches, and may be known at once by having the tail as long or nearly as long as the wing, the middle pair of feathers being much longer than the outer pair. They are plain-colored birds, the sexes being practically similar, and without a very conspicuous crest. They frequent the high forest-clad mountains, keeping much in the vicinity of the dense forests, and are described as being very shy and difficult of approach.