2 34 GALLIFORMES 



CHAP. 



griseiventris and B. severtzovi are the representative forms in the 

 Government of Perm in Eussia, and the districts from Koko-Nor im 

 to South Mongolia respectively. The Old World species, some- p 

 times denominated Tetrastes, are monogamous, and do not " drum." 



Different races of Peclioecetes phasianellus, the well-known 

 " Prairie Chicken," occupy America as far southwards as IS'orth 

 California, N'ew Mexico, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Both male and 

 female shew black, red-brown, and yellowish tints above, with 

 white streaks on the scapulars and spots on the wings, the lower 

 surface being white with dusky markings. The short tail, with 

 two elongated, but truncated median rectrices, gives it the name of 

 Sharp-tailed Grouse. This shy denizen of the woods and prairies 

 extends almost to the Arctic barren grounds in spring, that season 

 being remarkable for the conduct of both sexes, which meet to 

 hold regular dances on elevated spots, aptly compared to the 

 " hills " of Paiffs. No doubt the cocks are the chief performers, 

 but they are said to be monogamous, though their actions resemble 

 those of their polygamous allies. The flight is strong and rapid, 

 with alternate periods of flapping and sailing ; the note is a triple 

 whistle or a " cack-cack-cack." The food includes shoots of plants, 

 grass, berries, and insects, the last-named being the chief diet of 

 the young, as in the case of many other American Grouse. About 

 fourteen eggs are deposited in a cavity scraped amidst rank 

 herbage, and but slightly lined ; their colour is brownish with 

 darker spots, or occasionally creamy with marks of red. 



Centrocerciis urophasicmus, the Sage -Cock of the Western 

 United States and the adjoining portions of British America, has 

 the upper parts mottled with black, grey-brown, rufous, and buff, 

 the lower parts black, relieved by a white chest. The tail is 

 long and wedge-shaped, with attenuated feathers ; the sides of 

 the neck and lower throat possess stiff spiny plumage, and the 

 former bare orange air-sacs, as in the species next to be mentioned. 

 The female lacks the black spots on the white throat. This 

 bird, the largest of the New World Tetraoninae, is generally 

 unsuspicious, and runs ahead of the traveller uttering cackling 

 or clucking notes ; when hard pressed it rises with fluttering 

 action, and flies off rapidly to a considerable distance. The food 

 consists chiefly of " sage-brush " {Artemisia tridentatcC), but other 

 leaves and flowers, seeds, berries, grain, and insects vary the fare. 

 The habits at the mating-time resemble those of Dendragapus and 



