GALLINAE TETRAONIDAE CENTROCERCUS UROPHASIANUS. 437 



CENTROCERCUS UROPHASIANUS (Bon.). 

 Sage Cock. 



Tetrno itrophosianus, BON., Zool. Jour., iii, Jan., 1828, 214. BD., Stans. Rep. Exp. 

 Great Salt Lake, 1852, 319. Id., P. R. R. Rep., Beck\vitli's Route, x, 1859, 

 14. NEWB., P. R. R. Rep., vi, 1857, 95. 



Centrocercus urophasianus, BD., Birds N. A., 1858, 624. COOP. & SuCKL., P. R. R. 

 Rep., xii, pt. ii, 1860, 222. HAYD., Trans. Am. Phil. Soc., xii, 1862, 172. 

 COOPER, Birds Cal., i, 1870, 536. ALLEN, Bull. Mas. Comp. Zool., 1872, 

 181 (Laraiuie Plains, Carbon County, Wyoming; Salt Lake Valley). COTTES, 

 Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 233. HOLD, apud AIKEN, Proc. Bost, Soc. Nat. Hist., 

 " xv, 1872, 209. MERKIAM, U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872, 699 (Idaho). BD., 

 BREW., & RIDG., N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 429, pi. 60. figs. 2, 4. YARROW, Rep. 

 Orn. Specs., 1871, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 36. HENSUAW, Rep. Oru. Specs., 



1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 92. ALLEN, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., June, 



1874, 35. COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 400. 



The Sage Hen is very numerous throughout Utah ; its predilection, as 

 its name implies, being for the open, barren plains of Artemisia ; and wherever 

 this plant exists in abundance, whether on the extensive stretches of open 

 plain on the lowlands, entirely barren but for the growth of this shrub, or 

 in the valleys high up among the mountains, this bird will not be looked 

 for in vain. In the fall, it is gregarious to some extent ; straggling com- 

 panies of twelve or fifteen not being rare in a neighborhood which is well 

 adapted to its wants. When startled, the individuals of a flock usually 

 squat under the nearest cover, and remain motionless ; but if left for a few 

 moments, they quietly skulk away. When compelled to take wing, they do 

 so in a rather clumsy manner ; but, once under way, their flight is very 

 strong and even, performed with alternate flappings and sailing. It is con- 

 tinued for an indefinite distance prolonged at any rate till they are fairly 

 out of all danger from further molestation. The few I dissected in Utah had 

 nothing in their stomachs but a mass of half digested leaves of the Artemisia. 

 It is, however, now known that grasshoppers form a portion of their fare ; 

 and Dr. Coues informs me that he has found various other kinds of insects 

 in their crops. 



As this grouse is quite numerous in the more southern portions of Utah, 

 I am inclined to think that future observation will reveal its presence in 

 Northern Arizona. It certainly reaches into the upper part of New Mexico, 

 having been there taken by Mr. Aiken near Tierra Amarilla the past season. 



