BIRDS OF COLORADO. 7 1 



the moss and rocks that they are apt to depend on this for 

 safety and allow a very close approach. The returning change 

 to white begins in September and is completed in December. 



308b. Pediocaates phasianellus campestris. Prairie 



Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



Resident; not common. There are few parts of the State 

 where the "Pin-tail" can now be called common. Twenty 

 years ago it was plentiful in the northern half of Colorado on 

 the plains and in the foothills up to 7,000 feet on both sides of 

 the range. Even as late as ten years ago it was not uncommon 

 throughout Larimer County. It can be said now to inhabit the 

 same regions, but in such small numbers that its early extermi- 

 nation is probable. A few are still found across the whole of 

 northern Colorado from Nebraska to Utah and south on the 

 plains to at least Burlington and the "Divide" south of Denver. 

 Formerly a few were found throughout the southern half of 

 Colorado, but there are no late records of its occurrence south 

 of the places named. So far as known the present small and 

 scattered flocks of Sharp-tailed Grouse are strictly resident. 

 When they were more abundant they used to perform a short 

 migration in eastern Larimer County, moving into the foothills 

 in the summer and coming down onto the plains in immense 

 flocks in the fall. 



[Note. It may be that the Sharp-tailed Grouse of Routt 

 County are variety columbianus, but all the Colorado birds 

 examined by the present writer are campestris^ 



309. Centrocercus urophasianus. Sage Grouse. 

 Resident; common. As its name implies, it is an inhabit- 

 ant of the artemesia or sage-brush plains, and is scarcely found 

 elsewhere. It inhabits these favorable localities throughout 

 the State, but it is much more common in the northern than 

 the southern half of the State. It is resident where found, 

 except possibly at some of the higher points to which it moves 

 during the summer. It winters from the plains to 7,000 feet, 

 and regularly breeds to 8,000 feet. A few range in summer as 

 high as 9,500 feet. 



310. Meleagris gallopavo. Wild Turkey. 



Resident; rare, and will probably soon be exterminated. 

 There still remains a doubt as to whether the eastern Wild 

 Turkey is the variety that occurs in southeastern Colorado. A 

 few years ago these birds were enormously abundant along the 

 Arkansas River in Kansas and Indian Territory, hence it is fair 

 to presume that any found along that river in Colorado would 

 be the same variety especially if found on the plains east of the 

 mountains. Those taken by C. E. Aiken in this locality have 



