LIST OP THE BIRDS SEEN 73 



Gray Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa nmbcllus umbell&ides). One seen 

 in the Short Pine Hills. Fairly abundant in the Long Pine 

 Hills. 



Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pedioecetes pkasianellus campestris). 

 Very abundant resident along the permanent 'streams and in 

 the park-like area at the top of the buttes and near their 

 base. Broods this year contain about twelve. One nest was 

 found in a clump of " buck-bush" (Symphoricarpos). It was 

 only a slight hollow. The stomach of a bird of the year, 

 shot August 14 on the mesa of the South Cave Hills, con- 

 tained 200 flying ants, 4 small (shorthorned) grasshoppers, 

 i small beeetle ( Chrysomelidae), I small caterpillar, 25 

 black currants, 50 pods of wild flax. 



Sage Hen (Centrocercus nrophasianns). Abundant resident in 

 the areas covered with scrub sage-bush (Artemisia tridentata), 

 where water is far distant ; therefore mainly found on the 

 terraces in the stream valleys. Eight live tapeworms, the 

 largest a foot long, were taken from the body cavity of an 

 adult female which, though in good health, was solitary.. 



The Sage Grouse is in many respects one of the most in- 

 teresting of the birds of many portions of the west. The cock is 

 almost as large as a hen turkey, so he is big enough to attract 

 anyone's attention. All grouse are wonderfully effectively colored 

 from the standpoint of protection. Some, of which the sage hen is 

 one, have so much confidence in their invisibility that they have 

 been dubbed "Fool Hens" because they allow such close ap- 

 proach. It is astonishing how completely hidden a sage chick can 

 be even on bare ground. Many a time I have come upon a mother 

 walking conspicuously along with her brood. \Yhen she flew they 

 wouM squat on the short grass and disappear from sight. It is 

 a mighty good test of acuteness of observation to then try to 

 find all the young. Perhaps some may be located quite easily but 

 others "in plain sight" will not be seen until they fly almost from 

 under one's feet. 



Formerly they were found in many sections of western South 

 Dakctn and westward. The last ones recorded from this state, 

 except in the northwestern corner, were found in Sage Creek in 

 the Badlands in 1907. By 1910 all were gone except those in 



