COLUMBIAN SHABP-TAILED GROUSE 563 



the form of a luiiuan iiitnidcr or a hawk threatened, the concealed 

 spectators by warning clucks would cause the performing birds to 

 stop the dance and assume normal positions. 



This species nests ijiore commonly on sheltered and sunny slopes 

 of the grass-covered foothills than in the lower valleys and creek 

 bottoms. The nest is usually placed under the shelter of a bush or 

 clump of grass, although the variegated pattern on the back of the 

 female is of a nature to conceal her very effectively even if the nest 

 were situated in the open. A slight depression is usually made in 

 the soil, and this lined with grass. Sometimes the female adds feathers 

 from her own bod}'. The eggs range in number from ten to fifteen, 

 are roundly ovate, and average, in inches, about 1.70 by 1.26; extremes 

 of 72 eggs: 1.54 to 1.83 by 1.22 to 1.36. The ground-color is creamy 

 buff to pale olive brown, and the eggs are either unmarked or else 

 finely dotted with reddish brown. Usually the eggs are in a single 

 layer in the nest. Incubation lasts about twenty-one days and is 

 attended to by the- female exclusively, neighboring males banding 

 together in groups of three to five while the hens are incubating. 

 Authorities differ on the question of whether or not this species is 

 polygamous. The young are able to run about soon after being 

 hatched, and for some time their diet is almost exclusively of insects. 

 Later when the chicks have learned to fly they feed with the female 

 parent along creek bottoms (Bendire, 1892, pp. 99-101). 



The food of the adult Sharp-tailed Grouse (all races) is chiefly 

 vegetable, according to the findings of Judd (1905, pp. 21-22). 

 Animal matter (insects) forms only about 10 per cent of the total 

 for the year, and comprises chiefly grasshoppers and beetles, although 

 caterpillars have been found in some stomachs. The principal vege- 

 table constituents are weed seeds, 7 per cent ; grain, 20 per cent ; fruit, 

 28 per cent ; leaves, buds and flowers, 31 per cent. Especially during 

 the winter when other kinds of food are difficult to procure do these 

 birds feed rather extensively on buds and leaves. Their propensity 

 for eating flowers is out of the ordinary, the percentage taken being 

 greater than in the case of any other species of North American bird. 

 A half pint of blossoms has been found in a single individual. The 

 wild rose supplies the Sharp-tail with about 17 per cent of its fruit 

 food, the stony-seeded hips being taken in great quantity; in places 

 where gravel is lacking these seeds seem to serve for grinding other 

 materials in the stomach. 



The flesh of this species is much like that of the ' ' prairie hen, ' ' and, though 

 not equal to that of the dusky or ruffed grouse, was always regarded as an accept- 

 able addition to our bill of fare. 



The bird lies close, and when flushed flies off, uttering a constantly repeated 

 kuck, kuck, kuck, with a steady flight and considerable swiftness. It is, how- 



