232 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



308a. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



Pedicecetes phasianellus columbiamis (Ord) Coues. 1872. 



An abundant resident east of the Coast range. I found this 

 bird very abundant along the Cariboo road, from PavilHon mountain 

 to the 108-mile post. {Fannin.) Common in some places in the 

 interior, but said by settlers to be constantly diminishing in numbers. 

 (Streaior.) Seen at Midway, Meyers creek, Similkameen river and 

 Lake Osoyoos, southern B.C., in 1905, young hatched by May 2nd. 

 Common among the sage brush at Penticton, B.C. I found the males 

 in bands of 10 to 25 dancing all through April, 1903. I shot five 

 and all were males which leads me to think that the females take no 

 part in the dance. Not uncommon at Spence Bridge and Kamloops, 

 B.C. in 1889. (Spreadborough.) Abundant at 150-mile House, 

 B.C. ; scarce at Quesnel. Those taken at the latter place show a 

 close approach to typical phasianellus. (Brooks.) 



3086. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw. 1884. 



This form is very abundant from Manitoba westward. It has 

 been taken in the foothills but not high up in the mountains. We 

 have arbitrarily, and without seeing the specimens, referred all 

 prairie records here. 



Common in the broken woody country, essentially a bird of small 

 bluffs and usually nesting close to bushes, laying from 10 to 24 eggs. 

 At the approach of winter a large percentage of these birds retire to 

 the more wooded country and to the low sand-hills near Aweme, 

 Man. (Criddle.) Very abundant at Indian Head, Sask., found 

 feeding in stubble fields and around old straw-stacks. The males 

 collect in large numbers on some hill about the end of April or 

 beginning of May to have their annual dance which they keep up for a 

 month or six weeks. It is almost impossible to drive them away 

 from one of their hills when they are dancing. One day about 

 the middle of May, I shot into a dancing party killing two and 

 wounding another which flew a short distance. I went to get it and 

 before I got back to pick up the dead birds the others were back 

 dancing around them, I fired into them again, killing two and in 

 less than five minutes they were back dancing again as though 



