436 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Pedioecetes phasianellus, var. columbianus, Baird. 



COLUMBIA SHAKP-TAIL. 



Tetrao phasianellus, (not of Linn.,) Ord, Guthr. Geog. (2d Amer. ed.) II, 317, 1815, — 

 NuTT. — AuD. — Newb. — Bon. Syn. and Am. Orn. — Coop. & Suckl. — Max. Cab. J. 

 VI, 1858, 435. Centroccrcus p. Swains. F. B. A. — Bonap. Comp. Rend. Fedicecetes 

 J). Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 626. Fhasianus columbianus, Ord, Guthr. Geog. (2d. 

 Am. ed.) II, 317, 1815. Pediacetes columbianus, Elliot, P. A. N. S. Philad. 1862, 

 403. — Ib. Monog. Tetraoninse. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 532. Tetrao uropJmsia- 

 nellus, DouGL. Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 136, 1829. 



Sp. Char. Prevailing colors yellowish-brown and white ; ground-color of head and 

 neck deep buff. Upper parts variegated with transverse spots of black, and more or less 

 tinged with rusty ; scapulars without longitudinal spots of white ; wing-coverts and 

 outer webs of primaries with large conspicuous spots of pure white, the former roundish, 

 the latter more quadrate. Breast and sides v^ath V-shaped markings of pale yellowish- 

 brown, bordered with dusky. Throat immaculate, or only minutely speckled ; feathers 

 of tarsus short, the toes completely bare. No appreciable difference between the sexes. 

 Male (22,011 Simiahmoo, Washington Territory; Dr. Kennerly). Wing, 8.00; tail, 

 4.40, two middle feathers one inch longer. Female (19,173, Rose Brier Creek; F, V. 

 Hayden) ! Wing, 8.80 ; tail, 4.00. 



Hab. Plains and prairies of the United States, from Illinois and Wisconsin, west to 

 Oregon, Nevada, etc. ; south to Colorado, New Mexico, etc. 



Habits. This species is the more southern of the two varieties of Sharp- 

 tailed Grouse found in North America. Owing to the confusion which has 

 existed until recently, in which both the northern and southern races have 

 been considered as one, the geographical distribution of each may not be 

 defined with complete exactness. The present form is found in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin, and westward to Oregon and Washington Territory, and as far to 

 the north as British Columbia and the southern portions of the Saskatche- 

 wan Valley. 



Dr. Newberry found this Grouse associated with the Prairie Chicken on 

 the prairies bordering on the Mississippi and the Missouri, and frequently 

 confounded with that bird, though readily distinguishable by its lighter plu- 

 mage, its speckled breast, and smaller size. It is always the least abundant 

 of the two species, when found together. The range of this Grouse extends 

 much farther westward ; the cupido being limited to the valley of the Mis- 

 sissippi, while the former is found as far west as the valleys of California. 

 North of San Francisco his party first found it on a prairie near Canoe 

 Creek, fifty miles northeast of Fort Eeading ; subsequently, on a level grass- 

 covered plain in the upper canon of Pit Eiver, these birds were met with in 

 great abundance. They were also found about the Klamath Lakes and in the 

 Des Chutes Basin, as far as the Dalles. The flesh was very much like that 

 of the Prairie Chicken. This bird is said to lie close, and when flushed to 

 fly off, uttering a constantly repeated kuck-huck-huck, moving with steadi- 

 ness and considerable swiftness. It is, however, easily killed. Tlie young 



