564 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



ever, tender, and easily killed, No. 4, and even No. 6, shot Ijeing-, if properly 

 directed, sure to bring them down when Avithin moderate range. The young birds, 

 being fat and heavy, as they fall on the g-rassy prairie scatter their feathers about 

 as though torn quite in pieces, giving gratifying evidence of their fitness for the 

 table (Newberry, 1857, p. 94). . 



It is to be hoped that in the history of the Columbian Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse, California has learned a lesson that will result in benefit to 

 every other wild species within the state. Here is a magnificent game 

 bird, completely eliminated from our confines as a result of unre- 

 strained hunting. A modicum of foresight and forbearance would 

 ■doubtless have preserved the bird as a permanent game species. Now, 

 only yerj extensive importations, if possible at all, could be expected 

 to replace the species in the territory where once it reigned. This 

 would certainly incur a great deal of expense and probably years of 

 work before hunting could be allowed ; but it is worth consideration. 



Sage-hen 



Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte) 



Other names — Sage Grouse; Sage-cock; Cock-of-the-plains; Tetrao uropha- 

 sianus. 



Desckiption — Adult male: Whole top of head and hind neck marked in fine 

 transverse pattern with black, pale buff and ashy gray, the latter tone prevalent ; 

 line from base of bill over eye, and one beneath eye and ear region, continuing 

 around fore neck to meet its fellow in a V, chiefly white; side of head, chin, 

 throat and fore neck, mixed white and black in broken pattern, but black pre- 

 dominating; lower neck and fore breast, broadly white, the latter with fine lines 

 of black, consisting of the bare shafts of the feathers; the feathers of the breast 

 are notably stiff and stubby; sides of neck ornamented mth long slender black 

 plumes; bill black; area around nostrils densely feathered; whole of back, rump, 

 tail and outer surface of closed vnng variegated with black, dull white, and light 

 and dark shades of bro-\\ai ; the pattern on each feather consists of wavy bars 

 and shaft streaks ; primary flight feathers uniform dull brown ; axillars and lining 

 of wing white; belly solid black bordered on either side with a white stripe; 

 sides and flanks like back; feathers of lower tail coverts blackish brown with 

 broad white ends; tail feathers long and tapering to sharp points, ashy brown 

 beneath, with fine whitish or buffy markings; legs, feathered to toes, grayish 

 finely barred with broAvn; toes blackish. Adult female: similar to male, but with 

 black and white areas on head and neck scarcely indicated; chin and throat chiefly 

 whitish ; whole upper surface, of fine pattern of markings giving a grayish effect ; 

 breast soft-feathered, and mottled with white, brownish black and grayish brown ; 

 black of belly less intense, brownish ; primaries mottled along outer edges with 

 dull white in fine pattern ; tail feathers shorter than in male, less slender at ends. 

 Males: Total length "24.00-33.00" inches (609-837 mm.) (authors); folded wing 

 11.50-12.50 (292-317) ; bill along culnien 1.34-1.55 (34.0-39.3) ; tarsus 2.06- 

 2.55 (52.3-64.7) (nine specimens from California, Nevada and Wyoming). 

 Females: Total length "21.00" (533) (authors); folded Aving 9.80-10.20 (249- 

 259); bill along culmen 1.18-1.26 (30.0-32.0); tarsus 1.77-2.06 (45.0-52.3) (four 



