THE sharp-tailed or pin-tailed grouse is very similar in size 

 and weight to its cousin the prairie grouse. It is a lighter 

 grayer bird, and has a short pointed tail which suggested the 

 name. I have had many good days shooting these birds on 

 the Northwestern plains when they were abundant. They lie 

 well to the dog and fly a mile or more alternately whirring and 

 sailing on extended wings so that it is desirable to shoot them 

 from a wagon or on horseback. 



The range of the sharp-tailed grouse is from Canada and 

 Michigan to New Mexico and Westward to parts of California, 

 and to Alaska. It is said to be still fairly abundant 



in some parts of Oregon and /a^r Washington, but it 

 has been reported as extinct or M[ nearly so in California 

 and in other parts of its ^,,^^^^' range. Its food is simi- 



^- A "Sharp -tail" 



lar to that of the prairie grouse. Many grasshoppers and 

 other insects are eaten, the young being highly insectivorous 

 like all the other grouse, the quails, and the turkeys. The 

 vegetable food comprises leaves, buds and flowers; weed 

 seeds, fruit, and grain. Since this is the more Northern 

 species, it naturally relies more on buds than the prairie grouse 

 does, and in Winter it eats birch buds, wiUow buds, and others. 

 I have seen this bird aUght on trees more often than the prairie 

 grouse does, but it lies equally well to the dogs, does not fly to 

 the trees when flushed, and I am inclined to regard it as the best 

 grouse in America and I doubt if a better bird can be found in 

 the world. Certainly it is well worth preserving and I believe 

 it will not be long before it is restored and made plentiful and 

 profitable on many of the big wheat farms of the Northwestern 

 and Pacific coast states. The sharp-tail is very fond of wheat, 



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