20 BIRDS OF KANSAS. 



B. — . R. 477a. C. 564. G. 220. U. 307. 



105. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (Ridgw.). Lesser Prairie Hen. Resident 

 in southern Kansas; rare. Nesting habits similar to T. aniericanus. 



Genus PEDIOCiETES Baikd. 



B. — . R. — . C. — . G. — . U. 3086. 



106. Pediocsetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw. Prairie Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse. Resident in middle and western Kansas; becoming rare. Begin lay- 

 ing about the middle of May. Nest on the ground, under a bush or tuft of 

 grass on the prairies — a hole scratched out in the earth to fit the body, lined 

 loosely and sparingly with grasses and leaves. Eggs, eight to fifteen; 1.75x 

 1.25; pale olive drab to rusty brown, usually unmarked, but occasionally uni- 

 formly sprinkled with minute dots of dark brown; in form oval. Entered in 

 first catalogue, No. 221, as P. phasianellus columbianus (Ord.). 



Genus CENTROCERCUS Swainson. 



B. 462. R. 479. C. 560. G. 222. U. 309. 



107. Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonap.). Sage Grouse. Included as an oc- 

 casional resident of western Kansas on the authority of Mr. Will. T. Cavanaugh, 

 Assistant Secretary of State, who informs me that while hunting buffalo during 

 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874, he occasionally met with and shot the birds in the 

 sage brush near the southwest corner of the State. Begin laying the last of 

 May. Nest on the ground upon the plains under a low sage or greasewood 

 bush in a depression scratched out to fit the body; the outside edge or rim 

 composed of small sticks and grasses, lined inside with feathers plucked from 

 their bodies. Eggs, six to nine. In the many nests that I found in Wyoming 

 Territory, seven was the usual number — in no case more than nine; 2.10x1.50; 

 light-greenish drab to pale-yellowish brown, sprinkled with minute dots of red- 

 dish brown — upon some a few blotches of reddish brown; in form elongate 

 oval. 



Family PHASIANID^. Pheasants, etc. 



Subfamily MELEAGRIN>^. Tubkeys. 

 Genus MELAGtRIS Linn^us. 



B. 457. R. 470a. C. 554. G. 217. U. 310. 

 108. Meleagris gallopavo Linn. Wild Turkey. An abundant resident in the 

 early settlement of the State, but rapidly diminishing, and will soon be ex- 

 terminated. Begin laying early in April. Nest on the ground in dense thickets, 

 often under an old log or tree-top, in a place scratched out to fit the body, and 

 lined loosely and sparingly with grasses, weeds and leaves. Eggs, ten to fifteen; 

 2.50x1.85; buff white, sjjecked and spotted with rusty brown; in form somewhat 

 oval, but rather pointed at small end, and obtuse at the other. 



