THE BIRD BOOK 



309. Sage Hen. 



Centrocercus urophasianus. 



Range. — Sage plains of the Rocky Mountain 

 region from British Columbia to New Mexico, 

 and from California to Dakota. This hand- 



Pale greenish drab 



some bird is the largest of the American 

 Sage Hen Grouse, being about 30 inches long (the hen 



bird is about six inches shorter). It may easi- 

 ly be recognized by its large size, its peculiar graduated tail with extremely 

 sharp pointed feathers, and the black belly and throat. Their nests are hollows 

 scratched out in the sand, under the sage bushes, generally with no lining. 

 The nesting season is during April and May, they laying from six to twelve 

 eggs of a greenish drab color, spotted with brown. Size 2.15 x 1.50. 



PHEASANTS. Family PHASIANID^ 



* * * Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasiamis torquatus. 



Several species of Pheasants have been introduced into the United States, 

 among them being the Ring-necked, English, and 

 Green Pheasants. The Ring-necked species seems 

 to be the only one that has obtained a really strong 

 foothold, it being now very abundant in Oregon 

 and Washington, and adjacent states, and also 

 found in abundance on many game preserves in 

 the east. The males of any of the species may at 

 once be distinguished from any of our birds by 

 the long tail. Their nests are hollows in the 

 leaves under tufts of grass or bushes. They lay 

 from eight to fourteen eggs of a buff or greenish 

 buff color, unmarked; size 1.50x1.30. Greenish buff 



188 



