TETRAONID^— THE GROUSE, ETC. 13 



Fediocsetes phasianellus campestris Kidgw. 



PRAIRIE SHAEP-TAILED GROUSE. 

 Popular synonyms. Spike-tail, Pin-tail, or Sprig-tail Prairio Chicken. 



Pedioaetes io/u»i ftinnus Elliot. Proe. Phila,Aead.l8C2, lOS.andMonngr.Tetraon. (part). 

 Pediocictes uhasianellus var. cnlumhinntis, part. .\UCT. (all reference to specimens from 

 east of the Rocky Mountains within the United Stales). 

 Telraophasinnelhix (ner Linn.; Aud. Orn. Bios. iv. 1838, .Wit. pi. 382: Synop. 1839, 205; B. 

 Am. V, 18<2, 110, pi. 2;I8. 

 Pedioc(etes phasianellus Baiud. B. N. Am. 1858, 620 (part). 

 Pedioccetes phasianellus cainpestris Ridgw. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash, ii, Apr. 10,1884,93; 

 Man. N. Am. B. 1887. 2i.U.— A. O. U. Check List. 1880. No. 3086. 

 Hab. Plains of the United States, from eastern slope of Rocky Mountains, in Montana, 

 Wyoming, and Color.ado. to the prairies of the Missouri Valley, ami more sparingly, into 

 Wisconsin, southern Michigan, and northern Illinois. 



SUBSP. Chab. DifTering from P. phasianellus columbianus in rather lighter and much 

 more ochraceous coloration above, with the black bars narrower and less regular, and hav- 

 ing the V-shaped markings of the lower parts much less distinct (never deep black). 



Types, Nos. 76.743, male ad., Illinois, and 19,173, female ad.. Rosebud Creek, Montana. 



In the BuUeliii o/ the Nuttal! Urnithological C'lnh for October, 1882, p. 233, Mr. Brewster 

 alludes to dilTerences between specimens of the Sharp-tailed Grouse from Fort Walla 

 Walla, Washington, and others from eastern localities, but concludes that the dilTer- 

 ences noted "probably have only a local signiflcance." This was formerly my opinion also; 

 but many additional specimens subsequently received at the National Museum show con- 

 clusively that two very different styles of this bird inhabit the regions west and cast of the 

 Rocky Mountains, respectively. P. phasianellus columbianus is represented in the collec- 

 tion by specimens from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; and P. 

 phasianellus campestris by examples from Montana (east of the mountains), eastern 

 Wyoming and Colorado. Nebraska, Dakota, and Illinois. 



P. phasianellus campestris is the form liescribod and llgured by Audubon (15. Am. v. p. 

 112, pi. 298), under the name Tetrao phasianellus. 



Tliis spefies, so niudi like tlie Prairii^ Chickoii in its ap))oar- 

 anoH and habits as to be quite generally oonfouiided with it, is 

 apparently confined to the northern portion of the State, where 

 it seems to be of rather unconiinon oiciwrence, at the present 

 time at least. Mr. Nelson (p. 121 of his li.st) says: 



"If this species now occurs it is extremely rare. Mr. Kennicott 

 notes it as ' not uncommon formerly.' At present it is ro- 

 stincted to the northwestern jjortion of the State. The last 

 record of its occurrence in this vi<;inity is furnished by my frien<l 

 Mr. T. H. Douglas, who informs me that in the fall of 18G.'{ or 

 18(54. while two gentlemen were shooting prairie chickens nenr 

 Waukegan, they found anrl Kccured a covey of these. l)ii(ls, num- 

 bering fourleen individuals. These hail, in all piolciliility, liccn 

 raised in the immediate vicinity." 



