2 A. Anthony, Migration of Rickardsoti's Grouse. \_'\l-a 



MIGRATION OF RICHARDSON'S GROUSE. 



BY A. W. ANTHONY. 



It was recently my fortune to spend several months within the 

 range of Richardson's Grouse, and to witness its very extensive 

 migrations to and from its breeding grounds, migrations so dis- 

 similar to anything with which I am familiar in the other closely 

 allied species, I have thought my notes on the subject worthy of 

 record. 



In order that the character of the migration may be more fully 

 understood, it is necessary that I give a somewhat detailed 

 description of the region over which my observations extend. 



The mining camp of Sparta, which was the base of my opera- 

 tions, lies at the lower edge of the pine belt at 4100 feet altitude 

 at the base of the Powder River Mountains and about fifteen 

 miles west of Snake River in eastern Oregon. 



North of the camp, the ridges, which for the most part trend 

 north and south, are cut by the deep canon of Eagle Creek. 

 Running easterly, cutting a gap in the heavy growth of pine, tam- 

 arack and fir, of from five hundred to one thousand feet in depth 

 and half a mile in width north of the Eagle, the ridges of the 

 main range rise to approximately eight thousand feet above the 

 sea, dividing the waters of Powder River from those of the 

 Wallow. In these higher altitudes is found the true home of 

 Richardson's, Franklin's and the Gray Ruffed Grouse. 



South of Sparta the country falls away rapidly in a series of 

 sage-covered benches and ridges to Powder River, from which it 

 rises with equal rapidity to the divide between its waters and those 

 of Burnt River, known locally as the Lookout Mountains. 



The higher parts and deeper caiions of this range are well 

 wooded with pine and fir, but from information furnished by the 

 residents, no grouse winter there. 



On the first of March, 1902, when the first of the migrating 

 grouse made their appearance along the edge of the timber north 

 of Sparta, the snow was from two to four feet in depth, though the 

 lower slopes near Powder River were bare and had begun to 

 show the first signs of sprouting grass. Snow squalls and rough 



