PEDICECETES PHASIANELLUS VAR. COLUMBIANUS. 417 



commuuicatioa with the wiud pipe, and came to the conclusiou that air 

 was admitted from the lung through an opening simikxr to those by 

 which air gains access to others of the various air-cells in birds' bodies; 

 that, therefore, the tympanum is simply an exaggerated cervical cavity, 

 belonging to the general system of puenmatic cells. On introducing a 

 blow-pipe into the trachea, I could fully distend the air-sacs, but only 

 coincidently with the general inflation of the body which ensued. 



To return to the habits of this interesting bird. Throughout the 

 region of the Red, Pembina, and Souris or Mouse liivers, where I 

 observed the birds during the summer, I found them mostly in the 

 underbrush along the streams, which they seemed to seek instinctively 

 as affording the best shelter and protection, as well as plenty of food. 

 Where they were most abundant 1 fre/juently observed the " scratcb- 

 ing holes" in the bare earth among the bushes, where they resorted to 

 dust themselves, and most probably, in the instances of ungrown cov- 

 eys, to roost. Late in the summer and in September, those who cared 

 to shoot the tender young found them to lie well to a dog ; in fact, to lie 

 so close that they were liushed with difliculty without one. No game 

 birds could be tamer or more readily destroyed. Except when tempo- 

 rarily scattered by molestation, the coveys kept close together, and only 

 occasionally left the covert to stray on the adjoining prairie. They 

 appeared to be feeding chiefly on wild-rose seeds, and those of another 

 kind of plant equally abundant along the river-bottoms. The majority 

 of these birds were ungrown up to September, and scarcely any had at 

 that date begun to assume their new plumage. Up to this time I do 

 not recollect that I ever saw one alight in a tree ; and they were still, 

 for the most part, under charge of the parent, as separate families, 

 rather than as the indiscriminate packs in which they afterward asso- 

 ciate. With the advance of the month these family associations seemed 

 to break up, the change of plumage was finished, the birds grew strong 

 of wing, and able in all respects to look after themselves. No longer 

 solicitous of shelter, they haunted the innumerable ravines that make 

 down to the streams, and strolled in company far out on the prairie. 

 In this region, at least, they showed little wariness all through the 

 month. 1 could generally walk up to a covey in fair view on the bare 

 prairie, even to within a few feet, before they would fly, and they sel- 

 dom went far before re-alighting. Their appearance when not obscured 

 by the herbage is characteristically peculiar. They seem to stand re- 

 markably high on their legs, and generally carry their short, pointed 

 tail somewhat elevated ; the singularity is increased when the long neck 

 is outstretched, as it generally is when they are on the lookout. On 

 alighting after being flushed, if not nuich alarmed, they often stand 

 motionless at full height, but if badly scared, scpiat closely, and are then 

 diflicult to find if not exactly marked down. If without a dog, one may 

 pass and rei)ass among them without linding one, unless he happen to 

 stumble on them ; and often, going away after such want of success, 

 one may look back to find the heads of the whole lot raised above the 

 grass, intently regarding his retreat. It is astonishing how closely they 

 can squat — even laying the head flat upon the grounil, and appearing 

 scarcely half their natural size. At this season their food ai)])ears to 

 be chiefly giasshoppers. I have opened lunnbers to And their croj^s 

 crammed w ith these insects, only varied with a few (lowers, weed-tops, 

 succulent leaves, and an occasional beetle or spider. 



By the fust of October the Shar|)-taile(l (house have mostly finished 

 the rem^wal of their ])lumagi', are all full grown and strong of wing; 

 their habits are considerably nuidilied. They grow wary and watchful, 

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