Vol. 30, pp. 83-86 May 23, 1917 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 





A REVIEW OF THE GENUS PEDIOECETES IN 



COLORADO. 



BY F. C. LINCOLN. 



The doubtful status of the genus Pedioecetes in Colorado has 

 caused much confusion in the minds of those engaged in a 

 study of the birds of the State, all of whom, the present writer 

 trusts, will welcome what appears to be an accurate classification 

 and adjustment of this interesting group. 



A study of the literature permits but one conclusion as regards 

 this genus, which is, that its status is decidedly chaotic, a con- 

 dition dating from the publication of the first faunal lists on 

 Colorado birds. A brief review of the treatment accorded 

 Pedioecetes in the two most important of these works may be of 

 assistance in comprehending this confusion and the reasons for 

 its existence. 



The first important* paper on the birds of Colorado as a unit, 

 appeared in 1897, under the authorship of the late Prof. Wells 

 W. Cooke, t in which all Colorado Sharp-tailed Grouse are in- 

 cluded under one form, campestris ; a note being added to the 

 effect that ' ' It may be that the Sharp-tailed Grouse of Routt 

 County are variety columbianus * * *." 



Despite this note, however, the first supplement to this work, 

 published in 1898 + , refutes the suggestion, definitely assigning 



*A few local lists, etc., had appeared previous to Prof. Cooke's, but they are all 

 compiled in his work, and no specific references are necessary here. 



+ The Birds of Colorado. By W. W. Cooke. Bull. No. 37, Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, Fort Collins, Colo., March, 1897. 



t Further Notes on the Birds of Colorado. By W. W. Cooke. Bull. No. 44, Agri. 

 Exper. Sta., Fort Collins, Colo., March, 1898, 



20— Proc. Biol. Sod. Wash., Vol. 30, 1917. 183) 



