508 THE COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 
The Columbian Sharp-tail is—or was—a fine game-bird. It lies well to 
a dog, and moves off at a pace which is a fair test of marksmanship. More- 
over, its flesh is excellent eating, juicy and tender and in the best of condition 
just when the frosts are beginning to nip. Stringent protection for a term of 
years, followed by sane treatment in the annual shooting of the increase only, 
would assure to us the presence of a sturdy and valuable game bird for 
generations to come, 
The economy and general appearance of the Sharp-tailed Grouse is much 
that of the Prairie Hen (Tympanuchus americanus), or “chicken,” of the 
East, after which it was promptly named by the early settlers. In the early 
days it was partially migratory in habit, spreading out upon the sage-brush 
stretches and rye-grass plains in spring and summer, but resorting to the aspen 
groves and timbered draws in winter. As soon, however, as cultivation 
assured support in winter, the birds began to maintain their place in the 
open wheat-fields or visited the haystacks and the farm-yards. Tho chiefly 
terrestrial in habit, at the advent of cold weather these Grouse alight freely 
in trees and bushes, browsing upon the tender shoots or gleaning unfallen 
fruit, being especially partial to the rose-hips. In the Yakima country twenty- 
five years ago it was no uncommon sight to see a flock of these Grouse walk- 
ing and fluttering about the barn and out-buildings, nor even to be aroused at 
‘arly morning by the patter and scratch of pectinated feet upon the house-top. 
Of course this was the prompt signal for resurrecting the old musket,—so 
gracious is human hospitality. 
Sharp-tailed Grouse have several cackling and calling notes, none more 
characteristic than the rattling, grunting ery with which they take to wing. 
When getting under way the body is rocked violently, as tho by alternating 
wing strokes. A series of such flaps is followed, if the way is clear, by a 
long sail on stiffened wings; and so powerful is the bird in flight that it will 
not infrequently distance a hawk or an unsophisticated owl. I have seen a 
Marsh Hawk dash repeatedly into a passing flock of Grouse, but never saw 
him catch one yet. 
These Grouse are doubtfully monogamous, but their nesting is prepared 
for by an elaborate social function, which is thus described by Mr. Ernest E. 
Thompson*®: “After the disappearance of snow and the coming of warmer 
weather, the chickens meet every morning at gray dawn in companies of from 
six to twenty on some selected hillock or knoll and indulge in what is called 
‘the dance.” This performance I have often watched. At first, the birds may 
be seen standing about in ordinary attitudes, when suddenly one of them 
lowers its head, spreads out its wings nearly horizontally and its tail perpen- 
dicularly, distends its air sacs and erects its feathers, then rushes across the 
a. Speaking of a closely allied form, P. p. campestris—The Birds of Manitoba, Proc. U. S. Nat'l 
Museum, Vol NIIT. (1890), p. sto. 
