1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 59 



103. Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris Ridgway 



Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse 



A permanent resident of the prairies and plains in the eastern half of the 

 state, intergrading westward with columlnanns. In the less thickly settled re- 

 gions this bird is still abundant, but in most places it is rapidly deci'easing in 

 numbers, thougli, even in regions that have been long settled it remains in small 

 numbers in the grain fields. 



There is not a great deal published about the nesting of this species, and 

 the only definite dates are those of Silloway for the vicinity of Levvistown. These 

 are May 19 and 24, 1900, and June 4, 1901 (1903a, p. 25), and May 28, 1901, 

 two nests (1902a, pp. 32-33). 



104. Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte) 



Sage Hen 



A permanent resident of sage-brush plains of the eastern part of the state, 

 extending westward into the mountain valleys wherever there are large areas 

 of sage-brush. There are no recent records west of the continental divide, but 

 the bird is reported as formerly common at Silver Bow (Saunders, 1912a, p. 25). 

 It was once abundant nearly throughout the state, but is becoming rare every- 

 where. In the northwestern part of the prairie region there is a large area 

 where sage-brush is unknown and where this species is absent. 



There have been Imt few dates published for the nesting of this species. 

 Willett records about fifty nests found between JMay and July, 1903, in Choteau 

 and Valley counties (probably what is now Phillips County). These nests usu- 

 ally contained ten to thirteen eggs, with the extremes ranging from eight to fif- 

 teen (1906a, p. 75). 



N 105. Zenaidura macroura marginella (Woodhouse) 



Western Mourning Dove 



An abundant summer resident throughout the state, becoming somewhat less 

 connnon northward. Reported as not common at Flathead Lake (Silloway, 

 1901a, p. 45), and in Teton County (Saunders, 1914a, p. 131). In all other 

 localities reported as abundant. 



There are but few nesting dates given. These are June 18, 1862 (Cooper, 

 lS69b, p. 295) ; June 21, 1909, a dozen nests in the Bitterroot Valley; June 25, 

 1911, three nests, one with young; and first young out of nest seen June 28, 

 1913 (Bailey, MS). I have found a nest with eggs in Teton County as late as 

 July 9, 1912. This bird is very abundant in sage-brush where it nests commonly 

 on the ground, and in cultivated land, where it nests both on the ground and in 

 bushes, frequently those overhanging a stream. 



Migration dates in spring : Bozeman, May 9, 1909 ; Stuart, Silver Bow 

 County, April 29, 1911 (Saunders, 1912a, p. 25) ; Choteau, May 19, 1912 (Saun- 

 ders, 1914a, p. 131) ; Great Falls, May 5, 1887 (Williams, 1888a, p. 17) ; Bitter- 

 root Valley, April 30, 1910, April 29, 1911, May 4, 1912, and May 4, 1913 (Bailey, 



