44 Dice, Birds of Southeastern Washington. [j^ 



Dendragapus obscurus richardsoni. Richardson's Grouse. — A 

 specimen from the Blue Mountains is in the collection of Whitman College. 

 In late July, 1914, they were noted at Hompeg Falls in yellow pine, in 

 western larch, in Douglas spruce, and in lowland fir, being most common in 

 the Douglas spruce. On July 27 a flock was seen in alpine fir on a ridge 

 near Twin Buttes Ranger Station, and others were seen in Douglas spruce 

 on other parts of the same ridge. Several were seen on August 6 beside 

 Butte Creek. 



Bonasa umbellus togata. Canadian Rtjffed Grouse. — Rather 

 rare near Prescott, and found only in the densest timber and brush. One 

 was seen July 26, 1914, in lowland fir forest at Hompeg Falls. 



On June 13, 1908, a hen with a brood of small young was discovered in 

 thick brush two miles east of Prescott. 



Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus. Columbian Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse. — Reported by Townsend (1839) from near Wallula. A number 

 were seen June 17, 1914, in the grain fields and in the bunchgrass areas 

 near Eureka. They were formerly abundant in the bunchgrass hills near 

 Prescott, but spring plowing destroys many of their nests and this in con- 

 nection with extensive hunting has greatly reduced their numbers. They 

 sometimes feed on the buds of the trees along the stream in winter, but are 

 very seldom seen near timber in the summer. 



A nest found in a stubble field near Prescott on May 9, 1906, was merely 

 a slight depression in the ground lined with a little straw and a few feathers. 

 It contained 12 eggs. Young only a few days old were seen on May 14, 

 1914. Quarter-grown young were seen on June 30. In many cases the 

 mother will feign injury in an attempt to lead an enemy away from the 

 vicinity of the chicks. In one case the mother made a series of motions 

 and calls tending to direct the attention to herself and away from the chicks. 

 The young hide in the grass, and may sneak away a considerable distance. 

 They are very hard to find unless they give their calls, and this they rarely 

 do until the hen begins to call them. 



Centrocercus urophasianus. Sage Hen. — Snodgrass (1904, 227) 

 reported the sage hen to " occur throughout the entire sagebrush area of 

 central Washington." 



Phasianus tcrquatus. Ring-necked Pheasant. — Introduced into 

 southeastern Washington. They are reported from time to time in the 

 timber along the Touchet River above Prescott. One was seen Aug. 13, 

 1914, in a grain field near Walla Walla. 



Zenaidura macroura marginella. Western Mourning Dove.— 

 Near Wallula several were seen in early June, 1914, at the edge of the 

 willows along the Walla Walla River, and a few were noted in sagebrush, 

 some being nearly a mile from the river. They are common during the 

 summer in partially open places in the Touchet Valley near Prescott, and 

 nest in bushes and trees along the river. They feed mostly on the ground 

 at the edge of timber, but may sometimes be found several miles from trees 

 or water. At Lyon's Ferry a few were seen in late June, 1914, about the 



