TETRAONID^ — THE GROUSE. 429 



Centrocercus urophasianus, (Bon.) Sw. 



SAGE-COCK; COCK OF THE PLAINS. 



Tctrao tirophasiamis, Bonap. Zool. Jour. Ill, Jan. 1828, 214. — Ib. Am. Orn. Ill, 1830, 

 pi. xxi, f. 1. — Ib. Jlon. Tetrao, in Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. N. S. Ill, 1830, 390.— 

 Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 1829, 133. — Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 666. — Aud. 

 Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 503, pi. ccclxxi. — Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 106, pi. ccxcvii. — 

 Newberry, Zobl. Cal. & Or. Route, Eep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857, 95. — Max. 

 Cab. J. VI, 1858, 431. — Wilson, lUust. 1831, pi. xxvi, xxvii. Tetrao {Centrocercus) 

 uro2)hasianus, Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 358, pi. Iviii. — Gray, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 

 Ill, 46, 1844. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 624. — Coop. & Suckl. 222. — Jahd. 

 Game Birds, Nat. Lib. IV, 140, pL xvii. — Elliot, P. A. N. S, 1864, . — Ib. 

 Monog. Tetraon. pi. — Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus. V, 1867, 87. — Coop. & Suck. 222.— 

 Coop. Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 536. Centrocercus urophasianus, Jardine, Game Birds, Nat. 

 Lib. Birds, IV, 140, pi. xvii. ?.? Tetrao phasianellus, Ord, Guthrie's Geog. (2d Am. 

 ed.) II, 1815, 317, based on Lewis & Clark, II, 181. Cock of tlie Plains, Lewis & 

 Clark, II, 180, sp. 2. 



Sp. Char. Tail-feathers twenty. Above varied with black, grayish-brown, and 

 brownish-yellow ; coverts having all the feathers streaked with the latter. Beneath 

 black ; the breast white ; the upper feathers with spiny shafts ; the lower streaked with 

 black; tail-covertswith white tips; the sides also with much white. Male. Length, 33.00; 

 wing, 13.00; tail, 13.00. Female. Length, 21.50; wing, 10.75; tail, 7.50. Chick. 

 Upper surface brownish-gray, lower grayish-white. Above irregularly and coarsely 

 marbled with black, the markings most conspicuous on the head. Bill black. 



Has. Artemisia, or sage, plains of the Northwest. 



Habits. The Cock of the Plains appears to be confined to dry and 

 sterile regions, from the Black Hills to California and Oregon, and from 

 British Columbia nearly to Arizona, but only in those portions of the plains 

 in which the Artemisia, or sage, abounds. It was met with by Townsend 

 for the first time about fifty miles west of the Black Hills. He did not find 

 them in the valley of the Snake River, but saw them again at Wallah-Wal- 

 lah, on the banks of the Columbia, and near the mouth of tlie Lewis Elver. 

 He only found it on the plains that produce the wormwood, on which plant 

 it feeds, and in consequence of which the flesh becomes so bitter that it is 

 unfit for food. It was very unsuspicious and easily approached, rarely flying 

 unless hard pressed, and running ahead at the distance of a few feet, cluck- 

 ing like the common Hen. When disturbed, it would often run under the 

 horse's feet. According to his account it rises very clumsily, but, when 

 once started, flies with great rapidity and also to a great distance. It is said 

 to have the sailing motion of the Pinnated Grouse. They are abundant in 

 autumn on the branches of the Columbia, at which time they are regarded 

 as good food by the natives, and are taken in great quantities in nets. . 



Mr. NuttaU met with this Grouse in considerable numbers on the north 

 brancli of the Platte. They were always on the ground in small flocks or 

 pairs, by no means shy ; but when too nearly approached, uttering a rather 

 loud but short guttural cackle, and rising with a strong whirring sound. 



