THIRD ANNUAL MEETING 77 



and I went out one foggy morning later, on July 3, with a rope to drag 

 for nests, and were rewarded bj^ finding two. But both nests were 

 found exactly as Dr. Wolcott had found his, by flushing the bird almost 

 underfoot, one by Mr. Carj' and one by myself. 



Sickle-billed Curlew (Numenius longirostris). — This bird was found 

 breeding in some abundance on the grassy hills along Indian Creek, 

 in the northern portion of Sioux County. On June 18 I shot an adult 

 female and caught a young bird not more than two or three days old. 

 Ranchmen informed me that it was a common breeder farther east in 

 the vicinity of Ardmore and southward. 



Pkairie Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pcdioecetes phasianellus campestris) . — ^In 

 the vicinity of the S""E Ranch and along Monroe Creek were found 

 two flocks, each of about four pairs, of this grouse. On June 18, while 

 on our way to Indian Creek, we ^vere informed by a cowboy of a nest 

 beside a certain irrigating ditch. After diligent search along the wrong 

 ditch by Mr. Crawford and myself, the same cowboy appeared oppor- 

 tunely and in a few moments we had the satisfaction of flushing the 

 female from the nest of thirteen eggs, which though somewhat dis- 

 colored were still beautiful to me. The nest was situated in the midst 

 of a thick clump of tall grass on the very verge of the ditch and was 

 merely an excavation in the earth, lined Avith a few grass blades and 

 weed stalks. I returned later and secured the photograph of the nest 

 here given. The eggs were taken June 23 and were still fresh, though 

 the first ones must have been laid at least three weeks before that 

 date. This was the only nest found and the birds were not abundant, 

 these two flocks being protected by the owner of the ranch. 



Sage Grouse (Centrocerctis tirophasianus). — The Sage Grouse is a rare 

 bird in Nebraska, being found only in small numbers in the extreme 

 northwestern corner of the state along the flats of Antelope, Sage, and 

 Indian creeks where the rather abundant sage brush and greasewood 

 give it shelter and food. We made every effort to procure conclusive 

 evidence that this bird actually breeds in Nebraska. On our first trip 

 to Indian Creek, June 18, not a bird was seen and no direct evidence 

 procured, but on my second trip to that region, about the middle of 

 July, I was more fortunate, for two large male birds were secured 

 and, what Avas better, a flock seen consisting of an old female and ten 

 half-grown young, all at least seven miles within the boundary of 

 our state. These birds were without a doubt hatched and reared in 

 Nebraska, because it is extremely doubtful whether the parent could 

 have brought them for ten miles over high dry hills, without a drop 

 of water, and such would have to be the case had they been hatched 

 in South Dakota. Farther to the northwest in Wyoming, the birds 

 are very abundant, on account of the fact that their flesh is uneatable 

 except when young, thus making them little sought after by the 

 ranchmen. 

 Sharp-shinxed Hawk (Accipiter relox). — This ')old little fellow is 

 7 



