204 KORTII AMERICAN BIRDS. 



on gi'ound in open situations. Eggs about 6-12, or more, van-ing from olivc-buffy 

 to deep brown, often plain, but usually more or less speckled with dark brown. 



a}. Very dark-colored, with black or dusky largely predominating on upper parts, tho 

 Avhite scapular streaks and wing-spots showing in strong relief; feathering on 

 legs deep brownish gray. Eggs 1.75x1-26. Hab. Interior of British America, 

 north to Fort Simpson, Fort Resolution, and Great Slave Lake, south to 

 Moose Factory, Temiscamingue, I;a1ce Winnipeg, and northern shore of Lak-e 



Superior 308. P. phasianellus (Li.nn.). Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



a'. Lighter colored, the general color of upper parts buify grayish or light brownish 



of various shades, always predominating over black mai'kings, the white 



markings on scapular.s and wings not conspicuously contrasted with tho 



general color; feathering of feet pale brownish gray. 



IK Ground-color above buffy grayish or pale grayish chij'-eolor, M'ith little if 



any rusty tinge. Eggs 1.69 X 1-26. Hab. Northwestern United States, 



south to northern California, Nevada, and Utah, cast to western edge 



of Great Plains in Montana, north, chiefly west of Rocky Mountains (?) to 



Fort Yukon, Alaska 30S'(. P, phasianellus columbianus ((^)ari). 



Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



b^. Ground-color above more rusty or ochraceous. Eggs 1.G7 X 1---1. JLib. 



Great Plains of United States, north to Manitoba (?), east to Wisconsin 



and northern Illinois, west to eastern Colorado, south to eastern New 



Mexico 30S6. P. phasianellus campestris Rinow. 



Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



Genus CENTROCERCUS Svminson. (Page 185, pi. LX., fig. 1.) 



Species. 



Adult male: Above mixed graj'ish and buffy, ver}' irregularly varied with 

 black, the tertials bordered terminall}- with white, and some of the feathers (especi- 

 ally wing-coverts) having mesial streaks of tho same ; quills brownish gray, some- 

 times mottled along edges with paler ; cheeks, chin, and throat spotted black and 

 white, the former usually predominating (sometimes uniform on first) — this blackish 

 area bordered behind by a more or less distinct white crescent, the extremities of 

 which reach upward to the eyes ; fore-neck black, the feathers sometimes bordered 

 or edged with graj'ish white ; below this (on chest) dull grayish or whitish, the 

 feathers with very stiif, wiry black shafts; belly uniform black, tho surrounding 

 poi'tions chiefly white; lower tail-covcrts black, broadlj^ tipped with white; length 

 about 2G.00-30.00, wing 12.00-13.00, tail 11.00-13.00, weight 4^ to 8 lbs. Adult fe- 

 male: Similar to male, but much smaller, the chin and throat entirely white, black 

 patch on fore-neck replaced by speckled grayish, etc.; length 21.50-23.00, wing 

 about 10.50-11.00, tail 8.00-0.00. Young: Somewhat like adult female, but much 

 browner above, black abdominal area indistinct, and markings of lower parts gen- 

 erally less distinctly defined. Downy young : Above brownish gray, coarsely and 

 irregularly marbled with black, these markings most conspicuous on head. Xcst on 



