THECAUK: 
A QUART ER LY PO UGUN AL Or, 
ORNITHOLOGY, 
VOL. XVII. OCTOBER, - 1900. Now#e 
A NUPTIAL: PERFORMANCE OF THE. SAGE iCOGK: 
BY FRANK BOND. 
Plate XT. 
THE peculiar feathers of the breast of the Sage Cock (Cenévro- 
cercus urophasianus) are more or less faithfully described by 
every ornithologist who has publisheda sketch of the bird; but 
as yet I have seen no explanation of the cause of the wearing 
away of the barbs and even shafts of the feathers of the lower 
neck. These feathers are worn away during that period of 
sexual excitement which causes many birds to develop odd and 
eccentric habits until the nuptial season is passed. The Sage 
Cock is unable to produce the musical booming sound of the 
Prairie Chicken, the forcible expulsion of the air from the sacks 
producing an inconsequential chuckling noise only; nevertheless 
the bird offers reasonable entertainment to any individual who 
will rise early and stroll out into the sage brush a hundred yards 
from the camp fire. 
During the months of April and May the Sage Cocks are 
usually found in small flocks of a half dozen or more, stalking 
about with tails erect and spread after the manner of the strutting 
turkey cock, but I have never seen the Grouse dragging their 
wings upon the ground, turkey fashion, and in the manner 
described by Dr, Newberry in the quotation from this author 
