234 GALLIFORMES CHAP. 
griseiventris and B. severtzovi are the representative forms in the 
Government of Perm in Russia, and the districts from Koko-Nor 
to South Mongoha respectively. The Old World species, some- 
times denominated Zetrastes, are monogamous, and do not “ drum.” 
Different races of Pedioecetes phasianellus, the well-known 
“Prairie Chicken,” occupy America as far southwards as North 
California, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Both male and 
female shew black, red-brown, and yellowish tints above, with 
white streaks on the scapulars and spots on the wings, the lower 
surface being white with dusky markings. The short tail, with 
two elongated, but truncated median rectrices, gives it the name of 
Sharp-tailed Grouse. This shy denizen of the woods and prairies 
extends almost to the Arctic barren grounds in spring, that season 
being remarkable for the conduct of both sexes, which meet to 
hold regular dances on elevated spots, aptly compared to the 
“hills” of Rutfs. No doubt the cocks are the chief performers, 
but they are said to be monogamous, though their actions resemble 
those of their polygamous allies. The flight is strong and rapid, 
with alternate periods of flapping and sailing; the note is a triple 
whistle or a “ cack-cack-cack.” The food includes shoots of plants, 
erass, berries, and insects, the last-named being the chief diet of 
the young, as in the case of many other American Grouse. About 
fourteen eggs are deposited in a cavity scraped amidst rank 
herbage, and but slightly lined; their colour is brownish with 
darker spots, or occasionally creamy with marks of red. 
Centrocercus urophasianus, the Sage-Cock of the Western 
United States and the adjoining portions of British America, has 
the upper parts mottled with black, grey-brown, rufous, and buff, 
the lower parts black, reheved by a white chest. The tail is 
long and wedge-shaped, with attenuated feathers; the sides of 
the neck and lower throat possess stiff spiny plumage, and the 
former bare orange air-sacs, as 1n the species next to be mentioned. 
The female lacks the black spots on the white throat. This 
bird, the largest of the New World Tetraoninae, is generally 
unsuspicious, and runs ahead of the traveller uttering cackling 
or clucking notes; when hard pressed it rises with fluttering 
action, and flies off rapidly to a considerable distance. The food 
consists chiefly of “ sage-brush ” (Artemisia tridentata), but other 
leaves and flowers, seeds, berries, grain, and insects vary the fare. 
The habits at the mating-time resemble those of Dendragapus and 
