56 Wyoming Bxrperimenf'-Siaiion. 



tains, where I have seen them 'several times among' the glacial 

 boulders.' In Jtily of 1890 ifottfid an old bird with a covey of 

 ten or a dozen you^gthat Were less' tKan half gtown. When 

 the mother gave a note df alafni the birds dr6pi)ed close to the 

 ground wheii in the open'; or skiilked iiitd the dwarf willows 

 and hid. After the fright the old one commenced calling and 

 the young responded very much like young quail. I believe that 

 the Ptarmigan lives in all alpine districts in the state ana"'rij 

 one record is due to the fact ,that other ranges have not been 

 examined thoroughly. 



308 a. Pedioecetes phasianellus cblumbianus (Oed.). 

 Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse,' 

 Resident, but hot commoil. The'records of this species in 

 Wyoming are very unsatisfactory ; but there is no doubt but 

 that this grouse is 'fdund in the state. McCarthy reports this 

 species 100 miles from Fort Laramie; Allen states that it is 

 found on the plains of Wyoming, and Coues notes that it is 

 found in Laramie and Upper Platte regions. So far as I can 

 learn from hunters and from personal observations these birds 

 have never been found on the Laramie plains. Althoi^gh I have 

 traveled extensively in this state, I have never seen one of these 

 birds. 



308 b. Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw. 

 Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



Resident and common in eastern and northwestern Wyo- 

 ming. I have never seen this species west of the Big Horn or 

 Laramie mountains. They are very abundant in Crook county 

 and are found along the streams' on the notth and east of the 

 Big Horn mountains. They are rather common in the valley 

 of the Platte, below Casper arid southward along the Laramie 

 mountains. Jesurun reports them comrrion at Doiiglas ; Bond 

 has taken them at Cheyenne ; West at Buffalo. I have killed a 

 nuriiber of tliese' birds in Crook county, Carey reports this 

 species at Newcastle. 



