210 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



Rocky Mountains, on September ist 189;. In all the cases cited, 

 the birds were quite tame and the chicks had no apparent fear. 

 In only one case was the nest found. It was a slight depres- 

 sion by a large stone with a lining of grass and a few feathers. 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Nine fine specimens in both winter and summer plumage are 

 in the collection. A pair in winter plumage taken at Banff 

 Feb. 24th, 1896, and purchased from Mr. Dippie. Three taken 

 on the summit of the Gold Range, B. C, Aug. 8th, 1889, also 

 four others taken in the Selkirk Mountains in August, 1890, all 

 by Mr. W. Spreadborough. 



ex. TYMPANUCHUS Gloger. 1842. 

 305. Prairie Hen, or Pinnated Grouse. 



Tympanuchus americanus (Reich.) Ridgw. 1886. 



In the first week of May, 1886, one specimen was shot on 

 Hamilton beach ; from various sources I have learned that this 

 species is still seen along the southwestern frontier of Ontario, but 

 their numbers are decreasing. {Mcllwraith.) Mr. E. Seton-Thomp- 

 son in his Birds of Manitoba gives a circumstantial account of the 

 introduction of this bird into Manitoba, and shows that its first 

 recorded appearance was in 1881 when one specimen was shot 

 near Winnipeg. In the autumn of 1882 one specimen was shot 

 at Portage la Prairie. From that time on it became more and 

 more abundant in Manitoba, and in the autumn of 1895 the writer 

 saw one in the flesh killed at Indian Head in Assiniboia. This 

 species seems to be a true prairie bird as observers speak of it 

 always being found in the open even in the severest weather. 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS; 



One fine specimen killed near Winnipeg, Man., in the spring of 

 1889. One set of five eggs procured from Mr. Raine. 



CXI. PEDI0C-2ETES Baird. 1858. 

 308. Sharp-taUed Grouse 



Pedioccetes phasianellus (Linn.) Elliott. 1862. 



One specimen taken at the Saguenay River ; another was ex- 

 posed for sale in the market of Quebec, 1887 ; Mr. Cooper says 



