TETRAOXID.E: GROUSE. 737 



Ruffed Grouse or Sage Cock, but with a hidden, definitely circumscribed space of reddish, vas- 

 cuhir, aud distensible skin on each side, constituting an undeveloped tyuipanuin, over which lies 

 a lateial series of slightly enlarged feathers. Head lightly crested ; longest feathers of crown 

 falliug on occiput ; a cresceutic naked patch over each eye of numerous orange or chrome-yellow 

 fringe-like processes, in several parallel curved rows. Feet full-feathered to between bases of 

 toes, with long, hair-like plumage reaching to or beyond end of hind claw; toes above with 

 one row of broad, transverse scutella, a row of smaller rounded scales on each side, and a con- 

 spicuous fringe of horny processes ; below, bossed and scabrous. Tail much shorter than wings, 

 normally of 18 true rectrices, of which the central pair are soft, parallel-edged and squaro-tipped, 

 proje(;ting 1.00-2.00 beyond next pair; the rest rapidly graduated, stiffish, and crisp (making a 

 creaking sound when rubbed together) ; at first about straight-edged, soon becoming club-shaped 

 (with a constricti(m near apex) by mutual attrition. Sexes similar, but cock rather larger and 

 darker than hen, with more prominent supraciliary papilla?. One species, of two or three sub- 

 species, of i)rairie, jjerfectly terrestrial. (A. 0. U. Lists, 188G-95 had Pediocoites, after a mis- 

 spelling of Baird, 1858, corrected to Pedioecetes Baird, 1858, and Coues, 1872; see Coues, 

 Auk, Jan. 1884, p. 54; Gill, Auk, Jan. 1899, pp. 20-23; A. 0. U. Suppl. List, Jan. 1899, 

 p. 107. 



A7iali/sis of Subspecies 



2\'orthern Sharp-tailed Grouse. The markings black, white, and dark brown, with little or no tawny ; spots on the 

 under parts numerous, blackish, V-sliaped ; throat wliite, speckled. (Arctic America) phasianellus 



Common Sharptaileil Grouse. The markings black, white, and especially tawny; below, spots fewer, brown, 

 U-shaped; throat buff. (U. S. and British Provinces) columbianus (and campestris) 



P. phasianel'lus. (Diminutive of Lat. phasianus, a pheasant.) Northern Sharp-tailed 

 Grou.se. As above, in comparison with tlie ordinary bird next described. Very dark-ctdored, 

 in blackish and white variegation, with little bufl', even in falL Markings below heavier, in 

 sharper, more arrow-headed shape, quite blackish. Feet very heavily feathered, almost like 

 a Ptarmigan's. Interior of British America, E. to Hudson's Bay, N. and W. to the Yukon, 

 southward shading directly into the U. S. bird before reaching 49°. This is the true Tetrao 

 phasianellus — a name which was commonly applied to the following: 



P. p. coluiiibia'niis. (Of the Columbia Kiver. Fig. 495.) Common* Sharp-tailed Grop.se. 

 I'rairih Chickkx of the Northwest. Pin-t.\ilei) Grouse or Pin-tail. Sprig-tailed 

 Grouse or Sprig-tail. Spike-tailed Grouse or Spike-Tail. White-Grouse or 

 White-Belly. Adult ^ 9 • Upper parts closely and pretty evenly variegated with blackish- 

 brown, reddish-brown, and grayish -brown, the pattern smallest on rump aud lower back, where 

 the blackish is mostly in sharp-angled stars; the reddish mo.^t conspicimus on upper back, and 

 both the lighter ccdors everywhere finely sprinkled with blackish. Wing-coverts like upper 

 back, but with numerous conspicuous rounded white spots, one on end of each featlier. Crown 

 and back of neck nearly like back, but in smaller pattern, and the markings mostly transverse. 

 An illy-defined white area on each side of neck, over tympanum, and slight whitish stripe 

 behind eye. Throat fine light buff, usually immaculate, but sometimes finely speckled quite 

 across. Under parts white, more or le.'is tinted with buff toward thrnat; breast with nnmeroiis 

 regular dark brown U-shaped spots, one on each feather; similar but smaller, sharper, and 

 ftwer such spots thence scattered over most of the under parts, only middle of belly being left 

 unmarked. Long feathers of sides under wings matching npj)er wing-coverts nearly ; under 

 wing-coverts and axillaries pure white, not marked ; Hanks with bars or U-spots of dark brown. 

 L<'gs grayish-wliit<', unmarked. Quills of wings fuscous ; outer webs of secondaries with equi- 

 distant, squarish, white or tawny spots, .secondaries tip]>ed and imperfectly twice or thrice barred 

 with white, and gradually becoming sprinkled with the varied ccdors of back, so that the inner- 

 most of them are almost precisely like greater coverts. Four juiddle tail-featliers variegated. 



tnuch like back ; others white, or grayish-white on inner \><L-. il nr. i «■ t,s Imui.' niottlid ; 



47 



