TIJTEA ONIDJE — TETRA 0NIN2E : Gli USE. 581 



sterile sage-bush plains of the West; an abundant and diaracteristie species of those forbidding 

 regions, beginning with the Eastern slopes and foot-hills of the R. iMts., South into New 

 Mexico and Arizona, sparingly N. to i'J° or slightly further, in the Milk River region. Not in 

 Dakcita east of the Coteau, or in the Jlissouri Basin niucli below tlie Yellowstone country. 

 Its centre of abundance is the artemisia tracts of Colorado, Wyoming, Utali, Nevada, Idalio. 

 Eastern California, and Oregon. It straggles through the sage-busli, Ijiit 1 liave seen paclcs of 

 hundreds in the fall. In the breeding season its sonorous hullaballoo resounds on every liand 

 where the birds are numerous. The flesli is edible or not, "as y(ia Uke it." Tin; bcliavior 

 towards man varies with circumstances; sometimes the birds may alujost b<' knocked over witli 

 a stick, at others it is difficult to get a shot. In walking, tlie tail is somewhat elevated, and 

 swings sideways with each step. The flight is extremely vigtiroiis, and at times greatly pro- 

 tracted, with wings so widely expanded that the tips of the primaries stand apart; the c<iurse 

 rapid and steady when the bird is once fairly on wing, accomplished with a succession of i[uick 

 energetic wing-boats, alternating with sailing with stiffly motionless \^ungs until the imymlse 

 is spent. From tlie nature of its resorts the bird is exclusively terrestrial. The egg is nar- 

 rower and more pointed tlian that of any other gr<juse of our country, measuring from 2.05 to 

 2.25 in length by 1.. 50-1. 60 in breadth; grayisli or greenish-drab color, thickly spieckled with 

 chocolate-brown, mostly in minute dots evenly distributed, occasionally with well-defined spots 

 up to the size of a split pea, tending to circular shape. 

 206. PEDICE'CETES. (Gr. neSiov, ixdion, a plain; olKerrjs, oiJiete.% an inhaltitant.j PiN-TAlL 

 Grouse. Neclv without obviously peculiar feathers, like those eitlier of the pinnated or 

 rutfed grouse or sage cock, but with a hidden, definitely circumscrilied space on eaidi side of 

 reddish, vascular, and distensible skin, constituting an undeveloped tympanum, over whicli 

 lies a lateral series of slightly enlarged feathers. Head lightly crested, the longest feathers of 

 the crown falling on the occiput; a crescentic naked patch over each eye of numerous orange 

 or chrome-yellow fringe-like processes, in several parallel curved rows. Feet full-feathered to 

 between the bases of the toes, with long, hair -like plumage reaching to or beyond the end of the 

 hind claw; toes above with one row of broad, transverse seutella, a row on each side of smaller 

 rounded scales, and a conspicuous fringe of liorny processes ; below, bossed and scabrous. 

 Tail much shorter than the wings, normally of 18 true rectrices, of whicli the central pair are 

 soft, parallel- edged and square-tipped, projecting an inch or tivo beyond the next pair ; tin; 

 rest rapidly graduated, stiflish, and crisp (making a creaking sound when rubbed together) ; 

 at first about straight-edged, soon becoming club-shaped (witli a constriction near the apex) 

 by mutual attrition. Sexes similar, but cock rather larger and darker than the hen, with more 

 prominent supraciliary papillae. One species, of two varieties, of prairie, perfectly terrestrial. 



Analysis of Varieties. 

 Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse. The m.^rkmgs blacli:, wliite and dark brown, with little or no tawny; 

 spots on the under parts numerous, blackish, V-shaped; throat white, speckled. (Arctic America.) 



pUasianetlns 561 

 Common Sharp-tailed Grouse. The markings black, white, and especially tawny ; below, the spots fewer, 

 brown, U-shaped ; throat buff. (U. S. and adjoining British Province.) columbianus 562 



561. P. phasianel'lus. (Diminutive of Lat. j3/»as(an?w, a pheasant.) Northern Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse. As above, in comparison with the ordinary bird next described. Very dark -adored, 

 in blackish and white variegation, with little bufi', even in the fall. The markings below 

 heavier, in sharper, more arrow-headed shape, quite blackish. The feet very heavily feathered, 

 almost like a ptarmigan's. Interior of British America, E. to Hudson's Bay, N. and W. to 

 the Yukon, southward shading directly into the U. S. bird, before reaching 49°. This is the 

 true Tetrao phasiaiiellus — a name commonly applied to the next variety. 



662. P. P-columbia'aus. (Of the Columbia River. Fig. 398.) Common Sharp-tailed Grouse. 

 Prairie Chicken op the Northwest. Adult $ ? : Upper parts closely and pretty evenly 



