436 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Fedioecetes phasianellus, var. oolumbianus, Baird. 



COLUMBIA 8HABP-TAIL. 



Tclrao phnnifinrHiis, (not of I,inn.,U>iii), Ciutlir. Gfofj. (2(1 Amor, oil.) II, 317, 1S15. — 

 NriT. — Am. — N Kwn. — lio.s. Syn. aiul .Viii. < >rii. -- Vom: & SfcKi,. — Max. Cab. J. 

 VI, 1858, 4;ir). CfiitroivrcHs J). Swain.s. I". II. A. — Honat. C'oiiip. lioiul. Piilimrlc.i 

 p. I5aii:i>, lUnl.s N. Am. IS'iS, (i2ti. I'lin.iiiniii.i roliinihioiiKH, Oki), (iiitlir. (!ooj;. (2(1. 

 Am. 0(1.) !1, :il7, ISIi'i. J'r</i(raii:i ro/iimhiaiiii.i, Ki.i.ior, V. A. N. S. I'liiliid. lSti2, 

 40;i. — III. Monoj;. 'rctiaoniiKV. ('("ii'Ki!, Orii. C'al. 1, 1870, o32. Tttrao urophasia- 

 lulhi.s, DiUdi.. Tiiiiis. Limi. Soc. XVI, Ktd, 1J>2!(. 



Sr. CllAK. rrcvailini,' colois yt'lKnvi.'^li-ln-owii and white; proiiiid-color of head and 

 neck deep liufl". KpiHT ])art.-i varic<jalc(l with traii.svi r.-so .*!p(>t.s of lilaok, and nioro or less 

 tinjrod Willi rnsly; .scapnlais wiliionl lon,<;iln<linal s|)()l.-; of whil(^ ; wiiii;-coV( and 

 outer wi'lw of primaries witii lar^'c (■(inspiciioiis .sjiol.s of pure white, the former roundish, 

 the latter more (piadrate. Mrea.st and .sides with V-shape(l TnarkiuLTS of |)ale J'ellowish- 

 lirown, lioidered with (lu.sky. Throat innnaciilate. ■ only niimilely speekle(l ; feathers 

 of tarsus short, the toes completely hare. No appreeiahle dill'erenee hetween Ihe sp.\e.s. 

 Male CJ'JjOll Simiahnioo, Wa.shini^ton Territory; Dr. Keiinerly). Winfr, 8.(10; tail, 

 4.4(', 'wo middle leathers one inch lontrer. Feiiiak (1!),17.'3, Rose Urier Creek ; V.V. 

 Uayden)! Winp;, 8.>*t> ; tail, 4.(10. 



Hah. Plains and prairies of Ihe riiiled States, from Illinois and Wi.seonsin, west to 

 Ore;j;on, Nevada, etc. ; .south to Colorado, New Mexico, ele. 



H.viU'l's. Tlii.s species is tlit? more soutlicfii of the two varieties of Sharp- 

 tailed Grouse iVmiiil in North America. Owiiio to tlie eoiifiision wliich lias 

 existed until recently, in wliich both the northern and southern races have 

 lieen considered as one, the ooogriipliical distrilmtion of each may not he 

 detined with complete exactness. The present form is lonnd in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin, and westward to Orejron ami Washington Territory, and as far to 

 the noiih as British Columbia and the southern portions of the Saskatche- 

 wan Valley. 



Dr. Xewberry found this Grouse associated with the Prairie Chicken on 

 the prairies bordering,' on the Mi.ssissip])i and the Mis.soiiri, and frequently 

 confounded with that bird, thou,!,'ii readily distiii.guisiiable liy its lighter plu- 

 mage, its speckled bivast, and smaller size. It is always the least abundant 

 of the two species, when found together. The range of this Grouse e.vtends 

 much farther westward ; the ritpido being limited to the valley of the Alis- 

 sissi])pi, while the former is found as far we.st as the valleys of California. 

 North of San Francisco his ptirty first found it cm a ]U'airie near Canoe 

 Creek, lifty miles norliiciist of Fort I'ejiding; subseiiuently, on a levtd graws- 

 covured plain in the upjier cafion of Tit IJiver, these birds were met with in 

 great abundance. Tiiey were tilso found about the Klamath Likes and in the 

 ])es Cliiites Uasin, as far as (he Dalles. Tlu! ilesh was very much like that 

 of the I'rairie Chicken. This liird is sitid to lie close, and when fhisiied to 

 lly oil", uttering a constantly repeated kuck-kuvL-kucIc, moving with steadi- 

 ness and considerable swiftness. It is, however, easily killed. The young 



