EGGS OF NOBTll AMEBICAN BIRDS. 51 



306. Heath Hek, TyjnpanucJms cupido. Eggs, 6 to 10, 

 oval, yellowish green, of a lighter shade than those of No. 

 305, and unspotted ; 1.25 -f 1.72 to 1.27 + 1.75. Breeds on 

 the island of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., in May. 



307. Lesser Prairie Hex, Tympannchns 2>(('ttidi(iinctus. 

 Eggs, indistinguishable from those of No. 305 ni form and 

 color, but are a little smaller. Breeds on the eastern edges of 

 the Great Plains, from Texas northward. 



308. Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pediocoite^ phasianellus. Eggs, 

 10 to 14, oval, varying from ashy yellow to reddish brown, 

 often plain, but frequently sprinkled with dark brown ; 1.25 -J- 

 1.75 to 1.28 -{- 1.78. Breeds m British America, from the 

 northern shores of Lake Superior and British Columbia to 

 Hudson's Bay Territory and Alaska, in June. 



308a. CoLiTMBiAN Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pedioccetes phasi- 

 anellas columbiamis. Eggs, similar to those of No. 308, but 

 are paler and larger; 1.30+ 1.80 to 1.32 + 1.85. Breeds on 

 the plains of Northwestern United States, in May. 



308^?. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pediocastes phasia- 

 nelltis campesti'is. Eggs, similar to those of No. 308, but per- 

 haps a little smaller on the average; 1.23 -j- 1.66. Breeds 

 on the plains and prairies of the United States, east of the 

 Rocky Mountains, south to New Mexico, in May. 



309. Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianns. Eggs, 6 

 to 17, rather pointed, oval, varying from greenish to yellowish 

 drab, thickly marked with rounded spots of reddish brown of 

 varying shades; 1.50 -f- 2.20 to 1.45 -}- 2.15. Breeds on the 

 sage plains of the Rocky Mountain plateau and westward, 

 from Dakota, Colorado, and New Mexico, to Nevada, Eastern 

 California, Oregon, and Washington Territory, in April. 



Family XXX.— PHASIANID^. Pheasants, Tuiuceys, Etc. 



Members of this family deposit their eggs, which are numer- 

 ous, on the ground in retired situations, in coarse nests made 

 of leaves or other similar material. 



