204 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
6' Scapulars with conspicuous white ter- t HEATH HEN, 
minal spot, neck tufts short. T. cuptdo, 
6. Neck tufts rounded or almost square. 
Size small. 
LESSER PRAIRIE 
a’. Without band of cinnamon rufous at | HEN, 
base of neck. T. pallidt- 
J cinctus. 
é'. With band of cinnamon rufous at base 
ATTWATER’S 
perk PRAIRIE HEN, 
oO ck. , 
T. a. attwatert. 
GENTS PEDIGCETES 
(Greek, redwv, Pedion, a plain; + olkérns, ozketes, an inhabitant). 
Pedicecetes, Baird. B. North Am., 1868, p. 625. Type, Zetrao 
phastanellus, Linn, 
No tufts of feathers above air sacs. Head slightly crested. 
Tarsi and base of toes feathered, the feathers in one species 
covering the latter, reaching in hairlike webs tothe claws. Toes 
scutellated transversely above, fringed on sides with horny 
comb-like processes. Tail of eighteen feathers, soft, pointed, 
with the median pair longest and rather square at tip. Size 
large, sexes similar. 
One species and two subspecies comprise this genus of the 
Sharp-tailed Grouse. Terrestrial in their habits, yet not averse 
to perching on branches of trees and other convenient supports 
like their allies, the Prairie Hens. They are more shy in their 
dispositions than the members of the genus 7ympanuchus, and 
are not so fond of loitering about the farm buildings, but prefer 
wild districts and man's absence. They go in small coveys for 
the greater part of the year, but like other prairie dwellers, con- 
gregate in immense packs, in the autumn. They are fine birds, 
with many game qualities, and are found in the more central 
portions of North America from the Arctic Sea to New Mexico. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
A. Median tail feathers extending beyond the 
ESE 
SHARP-TAILED 
GROUSE. 
P. phasianel- 
lus. 
a. General plumage mostly black and white. 
