THE COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 597 
larly barred with white, the inner ones changing to pattern of back; tail graduated, 
the two central pairs of feathers much like back, the remainder mottled on outer 
webs, white or grayish white on inner; below whitish as to base, or tinged with 
buffy anteriorly, the throat buff, usually immaculate, the remaining feathers 
usually with U- or V-shaped markings of dark brown, heaviest and sharpest on 
breast, least or none on belly; axillars and wing-linings pure white; legs grayish 
white. Iris light brown; bill chiefly dark horn-color; toes light horn-color above, 
darker below. Young birds are browner above, with sharp white shaft-lines, and 
whiter below with dark brown spots on breast, changing to streaks on sides. 
Length of adult: 18.00-20.00 (457.2-508) ; wing 9.00-10.00 (228.6-254) ; middle 
pair of tail-feathers 4.00-6.00 (101.6-152.4) ; shortest (lateral) tail-feathers 1.50 
(38.1) ; tarsus 2.00 (50.8) ; bill .65 (16.5). 
Recognition Marks.—Crow size; mottled grayish plumage; chiefly terrestrial 
habits; completely feathered tarsus; graduated tail. 
Nesting.—Nest: a grass-lined depression under shelter of sage-bush, grass- 
clump, ete. Eggs: 10-15, buffy-olive or drab-colored, unmarked, or finely 
dotted with brown. Av. size, 1.70 x 1.24 (43.2x 31.5). Season: c. May Ist; one 
brood. 
General Range.—Northwestern United States from western edge of the 
Great Plains in Montana west to Cascade-Sierras, south to northern California, 
Nevada, and Utah, north thru British Columbia to central Alaska. 
Range in Washington.—Upper Sonoran and Arid ‘Transition life-zones in 
eastern portion of State; unknown west of the Cascades. 
Authorities.—| Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle: Coues, Vol. 
II. p. 180.] Pediocetes phasianellus, Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 
ISSO mp pT O20mO27 00 wl Ceros ID) D2isSstSszaap 
Specimens.—Provy. P'. 
“CHICKENS? No; I hav’n’t seen a Prairie Chicken fur—Oh, I dunno 
when—several years anyhow. Oh, yes; there used to be a good many of ‘em 
in thru here; that is, before them city sports came with their dogs and guns 
and cleaned ‘em all out.” Such an answer might be expected of the average 
East-side rancher anywhere from Walla Walla to the northern line, tho it 
would only be just to add that the farmer himself has helped himself pretty 
liberally in the early day when “chickens” were plentiful, and when every man 
accepted the bounty of nature without anxious thought for the morrow. The 
Sharp-tailed Grouse still lingers in certain less frequented regions, and some 
who know af local coveys may be inclined to scoff at these lines; but take my 
word for it: there is not one Sharp-tail in the State where there were fifty 
thirty years ago. We have no one to blame for it but ourselves either, for the 
bird is not excessively shy. It is hardy and adapts itself readily to changing 
conditions. Moreover, it thrives on the waste of the grain field, and is able 
to glean a fat living from barren acres which yield nothing otherwise unless 
it be for a band of all-devouring sheep. 
