204 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



on ground in open situations. Eggs about 6-12, or more, varying from olive-buffy 

 to deep brown, often plain, but usually more or less speckled with dark brown. 



a}. Very dark-colored, with black or dusky largely predominating on upper parts, the 

 Avhite scapular streaks and wing-spots showing in strong relief; feathering on 

 legs deep brownish gray. Eggs 1.12 y^\.24,. Hah. Interior of British Amei-ica, 

 north to Fort Simpson, Fort Eesolution, and Great Slave Lake, south to 

 Moose Factory, Temiscamingue, Lake Winnipeg, and northern shore of Lake 



Superior 308. P. phasianellus (Linn.). Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



a~. Lighter colored, the general color of upper parts buffy grayish or light brownish 



of various shades, always predominating over black markings, the white 



markings on scapulars and wings not conspicuously contrasted with the 



general color ; feathering of feet pale brownish gray. 



}?. Ground-color above buify grayish or pale grajish clay-color, with little if 



any rusty tinge. Eggs 1.70 X 1-23. Hah. Northwestern United States, 



south to northern California, Nevada, and Utah, east to western edge 



of Great Plains in Montana, north, chiefly west of Eocky Mountains (?) to 



Fort Yukon, Alaska 308a. P. phasianellus columbianus (Ord). 



Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



VK Ground-color above more rusty or ochraceous. Eggs 1.66 X 1-23. Hah. 



Great Plains of United States, north to Manitoba (?), east to Wisconsin 



and northern Illinois, west to eastern Colorado, south to eastern New 



Mexico 3086. P. phasianellus campestris Eidgw. 



Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



Genus CENTROCERCUS Swainson. (Page 185, pi. LX., fig. 1.) 



Species. 



Achdt male : Above mixed grayish and buff}^, very irregularly varied with 

 black, the tertials bordered terminally with white, and some of the feathers (especi- 

 ally wing-coverts) having mesial streaks of the same ; quills brownish gray, some- 

 times mottled along edges with paler ; cheeks, chin, and throat spotted black and 

 white, the former usually predominating (sometimes uniform on first) — this blackish 

 area bordered behind by a more or less distinct white crescent, the extremities of 

 which reach upward to the eyes ; fore-neck black, the feathers sometimes bordered 

 or edged with grayish white ; below this (on chest) dull grayish or whitish, the 

 feathers with very stiff, wiry black shafts; belly uniform black, the surrounding 

 portions chiefly white ; lower tail-coverts black, broadly tipped with white ; length 

 about 26.00-30.00, wing 12.00-13.00, tail 11.00-13.00, weight 4i to 8 lbs. Adult fe- 

 male : Similar to male, but much smaller, the chin and throat entirely white, black 

 patch on fore-neck replaced by speckled grayish, etc. ; length 21.50-23.00, wing 

 about 10.50-11.00, tail 8.00-9.00. Young : Somewhat like adult female, but much 

 browner above, black abdominal area indistinct, and markings of lower parts gen- 

 erally less distinctly defined. Downy young : Above brownish gray, coarsel^^ and 

 irregularly marbled with black, these markings most conspicuous on head. JSfest on 



