564 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



ever, tender, and easily killed, No. 4, and even No. 6, shot being, if properly 

 directed, sure to bring them down when within moderate range. The young birds, 

 being fat and heavy, as they fall on the grassy prairie scatter their feathers about 

 as though torn quite in pieces, giving gratifying evidence of their fitness for the 

 table (Newberry, 1857, p. 94). 



It is to be hoped that in the history of the Columbian Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse, California has learned a lesson that will result in benefit to 

 every other wild species within the state. Here is a magnificent game 

 bird, completely eliminated from our confines as a result of unre- 

 strained hunting. A modicum of foresight and forbearance would 

 doubtless have preserved the bird as a permanent game species. Now, 

 only very extensive importations, if possible at all, could be expected 

 to replace the species in the territory where once it reigned. This 

 would certainly incur a great deal of expense and probably years of 

 work before hunting could be allowed; but it is worth consideration. 



Sage-hen 



Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte) 



Other names — Sage Grouse; Sage-cock; Cock-of-the-plains; Tetrao uropha- 

 sianus. 



Description — Adult male: Whole top of head and hind neck marked in fine 

 transverse pattern with black, pale buff and ashy gray, the latter tone prevalent ; 

 line from base of biU over eye, and one beneath eye and ear region, continuing 

 around fore neck to meet its fellow in a V, chiefly white; side of head, chin, 

 throat and fore neck, mixed white and black in broken pattern, but black pre- 

 dominating; lower neck and fore breast, broadly white, the latter with fine lines 

 of black, consisting of the bare shafts of the feathers ; the feathers of the breast 

 are notably stiff and stubby; sides of neck ornamented with long slender black 

 plumes; bill black; area around nostrils densely feathered; whole of back, rump, 

 tail and outer surface of closed wing variegated with black, dull white, and light 

 and dark shades of brown; the pattern on each feather consists of wavy bars 

 and shaft streaks ; primary flight feathers uniform dull brown ; axillars and lining 

 of wing white; belly solid black bordered on either side with a white stripe; 

 sides and flanks like back; feathers of lower tail coverts blackish brown with 

 broad white ends; tail feathers long and tapering to sharp points, ashy brown 

 beneath, with fine whitish or buffy markings; legs, feathered to toes, grayish 

 finely barred vrith brown; toes blackish. Admit female: similar to male, but with 

 black and white areas on head and neck scarcely indicated; chin and throat chiefly 

 whitish ; whole upper surface, of fine pattern of markings giving a grayish effect ; 

 breast soft-feathered, and mottled with white, brownish black and grayish brown; 

 black of belly less intense, brownish; primaries mottled along outer edges with 

 dull white in fine pattern ; tail feathers shorter than in male, less slender at ends. 

 Males: Total length "24.00-33.00" inches (609-837 mm.) (authors) ; folded wing 

 11.50-12.50 (292-317) ; bill along culmen 1.34-1.55 (34.0-39.3) ; tarsus 2.06- 

 2.55 (52.3-64.7) (nine specimens from California, Nevada and Wyoming). 

 Females: Total length "21.00" (533) (authors); folded wing 9.80-10.20 (249- 

 259); bill along culmen 1.18-1.26 (30.0-32.0); tarsus 1.77-2.06 (45.0-52.3) (four 



