404 GAME-BIRDS. 
is soft, and unlike that of other game-birds, which are all provided with a muscular 
gizzard. Captain Bendire gives the following account of the sage-cock’s courtship :— 
“ Early one morning, in the first week of March 1877, I had the long-wished-for 
opportunity to observe the actions of a single cock, while paying court to several 
females near him, and I presume he did his very best. His large, pale yellow 
air-sacs were fully inflated, and not only expanded forward but apparently upward 
as well, rising at least an inch above his head, which, consequently, was scarcely 
noticeable, giving the bird an exceedingly peculiar appearance. He looked 
decidedly top-heavy, and ready to topple over at the slhghtest provocation. The 

PRAIRIE-HENS, 
few long, spiny feathers along the edges of the air-sacs stood straight out, and the 
greyish white of the upper-parts showed in strong contrast with the black of 
the breast. His tail was spread out fan-like, at right angles from the body, and 
was moved from side to side with a slow, quivering movement. The wings were 
trailing on the ground. While in this position he moved around with short, 
stately, and hesitating steps, slowly and gingerly, evidently highly satisfied with 
his performance, uttering, at the same time, low, grunting, guttural sounds, some- 
what similar to the purring of a cat when pleased, only louder.” 
Sharp-Tailed Another North American type is the sharp-tailed grouse, of 
Grouse. which two forms are known, namely, the large dark northern race 
(Pedioccetes phasianellus), inhabiting the interior of British North America, and 
