BIRDS OF INDIANA. 755 



(Nyssa mulli flora), and rt'inams oi' several of the beetles before men- 

 tioned (Jour. Gin. Soc. N. H., July, 1880, pp. 126, 127). 



An excellent article upon this species, from the standpoint of a 

 sportsman, by "Monoquet" (Mr. L. H. Haymond, of Warsaw), was 

 published in the American Field, and is referred to in the bibliog- 

 raphy. 



64. GBHIJS TYMPANUCHUS GLOGKR. 



*122. (305). Tympanuchus americanus (REICH.). 



Prairie Hen. 

 Synonyms, PRAIRIE CHICKEN, PINNATED GROUSE. 



Adult Male. Sides of neck with an erectile tuft of ten or more 

 rather stiff, elongated feathers with round ends, the longest of which 

 are 2.50 or more in length; tail feathers, without bars or other mark- 

 ings, except the- narrow whitish tip. Adult Female. Smaller, with 

 lesser neck tufts. 



Length, about 18.00-19.00; wing, 8.60-9.40 (9.04); tail, 4.00-4.30 

 (4.16). 



EANGE. Prairies of Mississippi Valley; south to Louisiana and 

 Texas; west to northern Indian Territory, middle Kansas, Nebraska, 

 and eastern North and South Dakota; east to Kentucky, Indiana, 

 northwestern Ohio, southeastern Michigan, and southwestern Ontario, 

 Canada; north to southern Manitoba. 



Nest, on ground. Eggs, 11-14; pale cream, olive buff or light brown, 

 often finely spotted with reddish-brown; 1.66 by 1.24. Usually one 

 brood. 



Eesident; formerly very abundant over the original prairie district, 

 and now approximately confined to that district. In most places be- 

 coming scarce, in some very rare. 



Generally known by one of the following names: "Prairie Chicken/' 

 "Chicken," or "Pinnated Grouse." 



Within recent years they have been reported from the following 

 counties: Common in Newton, 1894 (Pfrimmer); in Starke, 1892, 

 1894 (Dunn); rare in Carroll, 1889 (Evermann), 1894 (Ster- 

 ling); Steuben, 1894 (Cass); Boone, 1895 (Beasley); Knox, 1888 

 (Balmer); Clinton, 1887 (Halleck); Wabash, 1895 (Ulrey and Wal- 

 lace). Its occurrence has also been noted in the following counties: 

 Lake, 1896 (Parker); Laporte, 1892 (Parker), 1894 (Barber); Benton 

 (specimen in State Museum); Allen (Stockbridge); Dekalb, Steuben 

 and Noble (McBride). 



