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LESSER PRAIRIE HEN. 



A SMALLER, pale-colored variety of the Pinnated 

 Grouse, inhabiting southwestern Kansas, the western 

 part of Indian Territory, and western Texas, has been 

 designated as a separate race under the name given 

 above. It would not probably be regarded as in any 

 way different from the Pinnated Grouse by one who 

 was not an ornithologist and trained to observe technical 

 or slight distinctions between animals. It is somewhat 

 different in coloring and appears smaller, though meas- 

 urements seem to show that the size of the two birds 

 is pretty nearly equal. In certain parts of Texas, such 

 as the districts lying to the south and southeast of San 

 Antonio, this race is very abundant, and is also found, 

 but in more limited numbers, north of that city. It is 

 also common in the Indian Territory. Its most southern 

 range in Texas appears to be just north of Fort Brown, 

 near the coast. The eggs are somewhat smaller than 

 those of the Northern Prairie Chicken, and paler in color, 

 being a creamy or bufify white, covered with very fine 

 grayish or brownish dots; sometimes the shell is entirely 

 unspotted. The habits and nesting of this race are prac- 

 tically not different from those of the species already 

 described. 



TYMPANUCHUS PALLIDICINCTUS. 



Geographical Distribution. — Western Texas, through Indian 

 Territory to Kansas. 

 Adult J/a/^.— Differs from the Pinnated Grouse in being much 



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