GaME-BIRDs AND PIGEONS. 193 
not exterminated until within the past fifty years, a 
few remaining in the “barrens,” or grouse plains, as 
Nuttall called them. 
The Cock of the Plains is thus described by Dr. J. 
K. Lord: 
“These grouse live entirely on the open sandy plains, their princi- 
pal food being the wild-sage, which imparts such a rank, unpleasant 
flavor to the flesh that one might almost as well chew the bitter bush 
as eat any part of a sage-cock. It is almost impossible to obtain the 
cocks in full nuptial costume, when their necks are fringed with the 
most delicate pinnated feathers. The meeting of two cocks is sure 
to result in a fight, during which the greater part of these ornamental 
feathers are usually torn out. Unless the birds are killed prior to a 
hostile encounter, their plumage is never perfect, as they only have 
these fine neck and back plumes at mating-time. 
“It is impossible for any one to avoid being at once impressed 
with the extraordinary adaptation of the sage-cock’s color to the 
localities in which he lives; the mottlings of brown, black, yellow, 
and white are so exactly like the lichens covering the rocks, the 
stalks of the wild-sage, and the dried leaves, bunch-grass, and dead 
twigs scattered over the sandy wastes, that it is impossible to make 
them out to be birds when they crouch close to the ground. Their 
greatest enemies are eagles and large falcons, which, ever soaring 
over the plains or perching on some lofty rock-pinnacle, scan the far 
distance for any moving objects on which to pounce. The poor 
sage-cocks have no shelter; not a tree or shrub save the pungent 
sand-plant is there to hide them; but their marvellous coloration 
compensates for lack of other protection, deceiving even the sharp- 
eyed birds of prey.’’ 
« The Sharp-tailed Grouse,” according to the same author, “is alike 
estimable, whether we consider him in reference to his field qualities, 
or viewed as a table dainty, when bowled over and grilled. Though 
his flesh is brown, yet for delicacy of flavor I’ll back him against 
any other bird in the Western wilds. . . . Its favorite haunt is on 
open grassy plains,—in the morning keeping itself concealed in the 
thick, long grass, but coming in about mid-day to the streams to drink 
and dust itself in the sandy banks; it seldom goes into the timber, 
I n 17 
