BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 189 



a row of rather long scutella along each side, outside of which are long 

 fringelike processes or pectinations (at least in winter) ; claws relatively- 

 long and slender, slightly curved. 



Plumage and coloration.— Fezihevs of crown distinctly elongated, de- 

 curved, forming, when erected, a rather conspicuous crest; no elongated 

 feathers on sides of neck, and no obvious cervical air sacs; plumage 

 in general rather soft, the feathers of upperparts distinctly outlined, 

 rounded, the plumage of lower abdomen, anal region, etc., soft, hairlike, 

 and blended. Upperparts variegated with tawny-brown and blackish, 

 the scapulars and wings spotted with white or buffy ; rectrices (except 

 two middle pairs) mostly white distally; underparts white, the breast 

 and sides with V-shaped markings of dusky, the chin, throat, and fore 

 neck mostly buff. 



Range. — Open districts of northwestern and central North America, 

 from prairies of upper Mississippi Valley, north side of Lake Superior, 

 northwestern Ontario, and western Ungava to central Alberta, north- 

 western British Columbia, northeastern California, Utah, and Colorado. 

 (Monotypic.) 



KEY TO THE FORMS OF PEDIOECETES PHASIANELLUS (LINNAEUS) 



a. Darker above, the black or dark fuscous areas predominating, giving an appear- 

 ance of a dark bird barred with buffy brown and spotted with wliite. 

 b. Upperparts very dark, the brownish barrings and edges and tips of feathers 

 of mantle and upper back much reduced, marks in inner portions of vanes 

 very narrow or absent ; feathers of breast dark buffy brown with only narrow 

 white shaft stripes (central and northern Mackenzie). 



Pedioecetes phasianellus kennicottii (p. 193) 

 bb. Upperparts less dark, the brownish barrings and edges and tips of feathers well 

 developed. 

 c. White spots on upperparts much reduced ; feathers of breast pale buffy brown 

 with fairly broad white shaft stripes (Hudson's Bay region). 



Pedioecetes phasianellus phasianellus (p. 194) 

 cc. White spots on the upperparts large and prominent ; feathers of breast white, 

 merely edged with dark olive-brown (Alaska, the Yukon district to ex- 

 treme northern British Colombia). 



Pedioecetes phasianellus caurus (p. 190) 

 aa. Paler above, the brown areas larger, the blackish ones more hidden, giving the 

 appearance of a brownish bird mottled with blackish. 

 b. Brown of upperparts more rufescent — ochraceous-tawny to almost hazel (Illi- 

 nois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and southern Manitoba). 



Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris (p. 203) 

 bb. Brown of upperparts less rufescent— buckthorn brown to tawny-olive. 



c. Smaller and paler; tail averaging less than 110 mm., height of bill at base 

 averaging 12 mm., brown of upperparts pale, grayish tawny-olive (from 

 north-central British Columbia to northern California (Modoc region), 

 Nevada, Utah, and southwestern Colorado). 



Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus (p. 200) 



