NORTH AMERICAN BIRD IS. 175 



The Rocky Mountain Snow Grouse inhabits the Alpine regions of Western North 

 America from British America south to New Mexico. In summer it is found on the 

 mountain ranges from the timber line to the highest peaks; at this season, the 

 upper parts of the plumage of this species are minutely marked with black, white, 

 grayish-brown and tawny, with the tail wing and lower parts white. In winter the 

 plumage is entirely white. Mr. Dille informs me that it breeds commonly in Lamar 

 county, Colorado, making the nest in some cavity among rocks above high timber 

 line. The nest is scantily made of a few grasses. The eggs are from eight to fifteen 

 in number, generally eight or nine, creamy-ground color, marked very finely over the 

 entire surface with umber-brown. The surface is often almost entirely hidden by the 

 heavy markings. Average size 1.68x1.15. Mr. Dille states that the eggs are de- 

 posited early in June. 



305. PRAIRIE HEN. Tympanuchus americanus (Reich.) Geog. Dist. Prairies 



of the Mississippi Valley, south to Louisiana and Texas, west to Middle Kansas, Ne- 

 braska and North Dakota; north to Wisconsin, east to Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. 

 The Prairie Hen or Pinnated Grouse is a well known game bird, once dispersed 

 throughout the United States; at present it is found especially common in Indiana, 

 Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, Middle and Eastern Kansas 

 and Nebraska. It is a rare resident in Northwestern Ohio, and probably breeds. 

 In Kansas the birds begin laying the last of April. The nest is placed on the ground 

 in the thick prairie grass, and at the foot of bushes on the barren ground; a hollow 

 is scratched in the soil and sparingly lined with grasses and a few feathers. The 

 eggs are usually eight to twelve in number, but frequently more are laid. Mr. L. 

 Jones states that in Iowa high or low lands are resorted to for breeding grounds, and 

 little or no attempt is made at concealing the nest. The eggs are deposited by May 

 1st. In Nebraska the eggs are laid in the latter part of April. These are light drab 

 or dull buffy, sometimes with an olive hue, and occasionally sprinkled with brown; 

 their form is rather oval; average size 1.68x1.25. 



305o. AT WATER'S PRAIRIE HEN. Tympanuchus americanus attwateri 

 (Bendire.) Geog. Di&t. Coast region of Louisiana and Texas. 



This geographical race of the prairie chicken was first described by the late 

 Major Charles E. Bendire in "Forest and Stream" (Vol. XI, No. 20, May 18, 1893). 

 So far as I can Ascertain the general habits, nesting and eggs of this subspecies are 

 indistinguishable from those of the common Prairie Hen of the prairies of the 

 Mississippi Valley. 



306. HEATH HEN. Tympanuchus cupido (Linn.) Geog. Dist. Island- of 

 Martha's Vineyard, Mass. 



The light colored Prairie Hen of the Western prairies formerly had a smaller, 

 darker, and redder eastern representative, which was originally distributed through- 

 out Long Island, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Virginia. Perhaps the last 

 of this race still linger at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and a wide range of territory 

 now separates it from its Western cousins. Mr. Brewster states that it is common, 

 on Martha's Vineyard, where it is confined to the woods, haunting oak scrub by 

 preference, feeding largely on acorns. Being strictly protected by law, there is, ac- 

 cording to the best evidence at hand, no present danger of the colony being ex- 



