TETRAONIDjE — THE GROUSE, ETC. 13 



Pediocsetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw. 



PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 

 Popular synonyms. Spike-tail, Pin-tail, or Sprig-tail Prairie Chicken. 

 Pedioccetes columhianus Elliot, Proc.Phila. Acad. 1862, 403, and Monogr.Tetraon. (part). 

 Pedioccetes phasianellus var . columhianus. part, Auct. (all reference to specimens from 

 east of the Rocky Mountains within the United States). 

 Tetrao phasianellus (nee Linn.) Aud. Orn. Biog. iv, 1833, 5G9. pi. 382; Synop. 1839,205; B. 

 Am. v, 1842, 110. pi. 298. 

 Pedioccetes phasianellus Baied, B. N. Am. 1858, 62G (part). 

 Pedioccetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash, ii, Apr. 10,1884,93; 

 Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 204.-A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 3086. 

 Hab. Plains of the United States, from eastern slope of Rocky Mountains, in Montana, 

 Wyoming, and Colorado, to the prairies of the Missouri Valley, and more sparingly, into 

 Wisconsin, southern Michigan, and northern Illinois. 



Subsp. Char. Differing from P. phasianellus columhianus in rather lighter and much 

 more ochraceous coloration above, with the black bars narrower and less regular, and hav- 

 ing the V-shaped markings of the lower parts much less distinct (never deep black). 



Types, Nos. 76,743, male ad., Illinois, and 19,173, female ad., Rosebud Creek, Montana. 



In the Bulletin of the Nutiall Ornithological Club for October, 1882, p. 233, Mr. Brewster 

 alludes to differences between specimens of the Sharp-tailed Grouse from Fort Walla 

 Walla, Washington, and others from eastern localities, but concludes that the differ- 

 ences noted "probably have only a local significance." This was formerly my opinion also; 

 but many additional specimens subsequently received at the National Museum show con- 

 clusively that two very different styles of this bird inhabit the regions west and east of the 

 Rocky Mountains, respectively. P. phasianellus columhianus is represented in the collec- 

 tion by specimens from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; and P. 

 phasianellus campestris by examples from Montana (east of the mountains), eastern 

 Wyoming and Colorado, Nebraska, Dakota, and Illinois. 



P. phasianellus campestris is (he form described and figured by Audubon (B. Am. v. p. 

 112, pi. 298), under the name Tetrao phasianellus. 



This species, so much like the Prairie Chicken in its appear- 

 ance and habits as to be quite generally confounded with it, is 

 apparently confined to the northern portion of the State, where 

 it seems to be of rather uncommon occurrence, at the present 

 £ime at least. Mr. Nelson (p. 121 of his list) says: 



"If this species now occurs it is extremely rare. Mr. Kennicotl 

 notes it as 'not uncommon formerly.' At presenl it is re- 

 stricted to the northwestern portion of the State. The last 

 record of its occurrence in this vicinity is furnished by my friend 

 Mr. T. II. Douglas, who informs me th.it in the fall of ISti.'i or 

 1864, while two gentlemen were shooting prairie chickens near 

 Waukegan, they found and secured a covey of these birds, num- 

 bering fourteen individuals. These had, in all probability, been 

 raised in the immediate vicinitj ." 



