46 



and about farms where natural shelter occurs. It is exceptionally 

 abundant on the upper Elkhorn and the streams emptying into the 

 Missouri river west of Yankton, South Dakota. During recent years 

 showing a tendency towards domestication. 



[297. Dendragapus obscurus (Say) — Dusky Grouse. 



The range of the Dusky Grouse points to its probable occurrence 

 among the pines of Sioux and Dawes counties. While spending a 

 short time in that region a number of years ago Bruner was informed 

 by some ranchmen of the presence of the ' ' Fool Hen" on Indian creek 

 only a mile or two west of the state line.] 



300. *Bonasa umbellus (Linneaus) — Ruffed Grouse. 



This Grouse is confined to the wooded portions of the eastern one- 

 fifth of the state where it is rare. Rockport, South Omaha — breeding 

 (L. Skow) ; Weeping Water, Waverly, Richardson county. 



305. *Tympanuchus americanus (Reichenbach) — Prairie Hen. 



Entire state. Formerly abundent in the eastern portion, where it 

 is still common; now plentiful in central portions, especially north- 

 ward; becoming rarer towards the western end; partially migratory, 

 moving southeastward in fall and northwestward in spring. 



307. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Ridgway — Lesser Prairie Hen. 



The Lesser Prairie Hen formerly occurred in Cuming and Washing- 

 ton counties where a number were shot in the early seventies 

 by Omaha and local sportsmen. Some of these specimens were mount- 

 ed and are supposed to be still in existence. Bruner saw a living bird 

 at West Point during the winter of 1871-72 which was approached 

 to within a few yards, but was not taken. It has also been reported from 

 Clay county, South Dakota, by Dr. Agersborg. To our knowledge it 

 has not been seen nor taken within the state since the above dates. 



308b. *Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris Ridgway — Prairie Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse. 

 A common bird in the sand-hill region of the middle and western 

 portions of the state where it breeds; formerl}' spreading to the east- 

 ward in winter to Cuming and Dodge counties. 



309. *Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte) — Sage Grouse. 



Not common and confined to the extreme northwestern portions 

 of the state in regions where sage-brush (Artemesia tridentata) 

 abounds; along Hat. Antelope, and Indian creeks in Sioux county, 

 where it has several times been reported to breed and where Carriker 

 and Cary found old birds with half-grown young in the summer of 

 1901 (Proc. N. O. XL, III, p. 77). 



EXTRALIMITAL: The Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, 308a. P. 

 p. columbianus (Ord), referred to in Bruner' s Notes on Nebraska 

 Birds was an error and based on rather light-colored specimens of 

 P. p. campestris taken in the northwestern part of the state along: the 

 Pine ridge. 



