232 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
308a. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. 
Pediecetes phasianellus columbianus (ORD) COUES. 1872. 
An abundant resident east of the Coast range. I found this 
bird very abundant along the Cariboo road, from Pavillion mountain 
to the 108-mile post. (Fannin.) Common in some places in the 
interior, but said by settlers to be constantly diminishing in numbers. 
(Streator.) Seen at Midway, Meyers creek, Similkameen river and 
Lake Osoyoos, southern B.C., in 1905, young hatched by May 2nd. 
Common among the sage brush at Penticton, B.C. I found the males 
in bands of 10 to 25 dancing all through April, 1903. I shot five 
and all were males which leads me to think that the females take no 
part in the dance. Not uncommon at Spence Bridge and Kamloops, 
B.C. in 1889. (Spreadborough.) Abundant at 150-mile House, 
B.C.; scarce at Quesnel. Those taken at the latter place show a 
close approach to typical phasianellus. (Brooks.) 
3086. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 
Pediecetes phasianellus campestris R1ipGW. 1884. 
This form is very abundant from Manitoba westward. It has 
been taken in the foothills but not high up in the mountains. We 
have arbitrarily, and without seeing the specimens, referred all 
prairie records here. 
Common in the broken woody country, essentially a bird of small 
bluffs and usually nesting close to bushes, laying from 10 to 24 eggs. 
At the approach of winter a large percentage of these birds retire to 
the more wooded country and to the low sand-hills near Aweme, 
Man. (Criddle.) Very abundant at Indian Head, Sask., found 
feeding in stubble fields and around old straw-stacks. The males 
collect in large numbers on some hill about the end of April or 
beginning of May to have their annual dance which they keep up for a 
month or six weeks. It is almost impossible to drive them away 
from one of their hills when they are dancing. One day about 
the middle of May, I shot into a dancing party killing two and 
wounding another which flew a short distance. I went to get it and 
before I got back to pick up the dead birds the others were back 
dancing around them, I fired into them again, killing two and in 
less than five minutes they were back dancing again as though 
