46 
and about farms where natural shelter occurs. It is exceptionally 
abundant on the upper Elkhorn and the streams emptying into the 
Missouri river west of Yankton,South Dakota. During recent years 
showing a tendency towards domestication. 
[297, Dendragapus obscurus (Say)—Dusky GrRousE. 
The range of the Dusky Grouse points to its probable occurrence 
among the pines of Sioux and Dawes counties. While spending a 
short time in that region a number of years ago Bruner was informed 
by some ranchmen of the presence of the ‘‘ Fool Hen” on Indian creek 
only a mile or two west of the state line.] 
300. *Bonasa umbellus (Linneaus)—RuFFED GROUSE. 
This Grouse is confined to the wooded portions of the eastern one- 
fifth of the state where it is rare. Rockport, South Omaha—breeding 
(L. Skow); Weeping Water, Waverly, Richardson county. 
305. *Tympanuchus americanus (Reichenbach)—Pratrif HEN. 
Entire state. Formerly abundent in the eastern portioh, where it 
is still common; now plentiful in central portions, especially north- 
ward; becoming rarer towards the western end; partially migratory, 
moving southeastward in fall and northwestward in spring. 
307. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Ridgway—Lesser PrarrRie HEN. 
The Lesser Prairie Hen formerly occurred in Cuming and Washing- 
ton counties where a number were shot in the early seventies 
by Omaha and local sportsmen. Some of these specimens were mount- 
ed and are supposed to be still in existence. Bruner saw a living bird 
at West Point during the winter of 1871-72 which was approached 
to within a few yards, but was not taken. It hasalso been reported from 
Clay county, South Dakota, by Dr. Agersborg. To our knowledge it 
has not been seen nor taken within the state since the above dates. 
308b. *Pedicecetes phasianellus campestris Ridgway— PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED 
GROUSE. 
A common bird in the sand-hill region of the middle and western 
portions of the state where it breeds; formerly spreading to the east- 
ward in winter to Cuming and Dodge counties. 
309. *Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte)—SaGcn GROUSE. 
Not conimon and confined to the extreme northwestern portions 
of the state in regions where sage-brush (Artemesia tridentata) 
abounds; along Hat, Antelope, and Indian creeks in Sioux county, 
where it has several times been reported to breed and where Carriker 
and Cary found old birds with half-grown young in the summer of 
F901. (Proes4N VO) WU) LED.: 33, m7). 
EXTRALIMITAL: The Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, 308a. P. 
p.columbianus (Ord), referred to in Bruner’s Notes on Nebraska 
Birds was an error and based on rather light-colored specimens of 
P. p. campestris taken in the northwestern part of the state along the 
Pine ridge. 
