4 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
We cached our camera and blind, 
and went on to the house to ar- 
range for beds and board, leaving 
as soon as possible for our first 
close view of the birds. After 
supper that evening we set up our 
blind near a grassy slope reaching \\,\\ 
to} ? to) 
from the sage covered hill at the 
eastern side of “the wash.” 
The waters that had formed 
this flood plain came down from 
the forest-capped Van Brimmer 
mountain away off to the south. 
Westward of this wash lay _hil- 
locks and ridges of dark lava rock. 
About eight level acres, near the 
shore of the lake, were bare of 
vegetation, and it was there that 
the sage cocks came from miles 
around to dance and strut—and “‘plop.” 
The strut was made up of four movements. 
First, the filling of the air pouch, accom- 
panied by a grunting sound; second, a short 
stiff-legged run in which neither pouch nor 
wings touched the ground; third, the bird \¥W 
stopped suddenly, spread his tail as it raised NN / 
to the perpendicular, threw back his head 
with a forward movement of 
the wings, pushed the air-filled 
pouch well up on 
the chest; fourth, 
there was a sudden 
upward throw, fol- 
lowed by a more 
vigorous anid 
snappy toss, and 
the tightened pouch 
came down again ~ \ 
on the extended ~ 
chest with a rub- 
bery “plop.” This 
plop was repeated 
three times then the 
bird eased down for 
another — rumbling 
gurgle and another 
run. 
Mr. Laird assured us that these antics 
take place from early March till the 
first of June; in fact, through the mat- 
However, it was evident 
ing season, 
that this was not a 
courting action; be- 
cause when in the 
course of the morn- 
ing or evening per- 
formance, two or 
three hens meandered through the throng no 
notice whatever was taken of them. 
SAGE GROUSE (MALE) NECK FEATHERS 
September feather of loose structure which accounts for the wear on 
the spring feather. Upper. Taken from near bare spots 
on the pouch. Lower. Feather from breast 
courting performance of a differ- 
ent character may take place .in 
the day time, far from the water- 
ing place, on the sage-covered 
, hills. 
/ Bach bird appeared to have a 
_ private spot on which no other 
dares to trespass. In reaching 
those proprietary spots, collisions 
sometimes occurred, and quiet 
- cock-fights took place much after 
ZZ, , the manner of china pheasants. 
Z With rump feathers erect, low- 
ered heads and tails, and dragging 
pouches, the birds sidled around 
and struck with their wings; ali 
the while scolding in a trumpet- 
ing, gurgling grunt, as the owner 
actually pushed the intruder off 
his domain. A few feet one way or another, 
the belligerents would separate and go on 
plopping as before. 
Some birds began to perform well up in 
the sage brush and plopped all the way out 
to the dancing spot, others walked quietly 
in to their respective claims before beginning 
to show off. 
An examination of the pouch of 
the sage grouse disclosed a peculiar 
/ development. In 
front are two yel- 
lowish-green bare 
spots separated and 
surrounded by short 
stiff feathers, short- 
est and stiffest im- 
mediately surround- 
ing the bare area. 
Probably it is these 
spots which make 
the sounding plop, 
after the manner of 
a wet drum-head. 
In the fall, when 
new, these feathers 
are soft and exceed- 
ingly pliable, and 
by the time the birds are ready 
for strutting, have broken away 
to stiff, sharp bristles which 
will in no way interfere with 
the vigor of the 
snap, as soft feath- 
ers would do. 
The morning after 
our arrival, the 11th 
of May, no_ birds 
came near enough to the blind for photograph- 
ing. At nine o’clock it began to rain, and we 
SY 
Z 
beneath pouch. 
A real 
