COLUMBIAN SHABP-TAILED GROUSE 561 



his ranch up to about fifteen years previously. They were at one 

 time "so thick one could not walk through the fields without scaring 

 up several bunches." The boys killed them off until finally (about 

 1901) but one pair was left. Six young were raised that last year, 

 but the entire family was later wiped out. 



Deputy Pish and Game Commissioner Frank P. Cady, of Susan- 

 ville, writes us (under date February 2, 1916) that "about 15 years 

 ago there were forty or fifty Prairie Chickens" on the ranch of Mr. 

 McKensie ' ' at the mouth of Juniper Creek, Lassen County. ' ' At that 

 time no shooting was allowed on the ranch; but after the death of 

 Mr. McKensie, shooting was resumed. The birds had all disappeared 

 by about 1906. 



It will be noted from the above testimony that the disappearance 

 of this bird can be attributed to no other cause than to its incessant 

 pursuit by man. As long as a single bird remained hunting per- 

 sisted. Moreover the fact that this grouse prefers grassy localities, 

 just such as are selected for ranch sites, indicates another of the " 

 factors that led to its extermination. 



From other grouse and quail this species is distinguishable by 

 medium size, its unhanded, pointed tail (whence the name Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse), its mixed color pattern, of pale effect, on the upper surface, 

 and the white under surface of the body with bold V-shaped brown 

 markings. The Oregon Ruffed, Sooty and Sierra grouses, all have 

 square or slightly rounded tails marked with broad bands near the 

 ends; furthermore these species all inhabit forested country almost 

 exclusively, while the Sharp-tail is essentially a bird of the prairie. 

 The Sage-hen differs strikingly from the Sharp-tail in being of much 

 larger size and in having a large black area on the belly. The present 

 species is often called "Prairie Chicken," but that name properly 

 belongs to a bird {Tympanuchus americanus) which does not range 

 west of the eastern border of the Rocky Mountains and which differs 

 from the Sharp-tail in being conspicuously barred on the under sur- 

 face, and in bearing long blackish tufts of feathers on each side of 

 the neck. 



The Sharp-tailed Grouse inhabits dry brushy or bunch-grass 

 prairie land, but it is sometimes found on hillsides and even occa- 

 sionally among small trees, though never in heavy timber. At Fort 

 Klamath, Oregon, the species was noted by Bendire in rather swampy 

 land, a departure from its usual preference. In winter the birds 

 usually band together wherever they are at all numerous. As many 

 as two hundred have occasionally in former years been observed in 

 a single flock. The spring, however, sees them broken into smaller 

 assemblages which then take part in the "dancing" that accompanies 

 mating. 



