THE BIRD BOOK 
309- Sage Hen. 
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Centrocercus urophasianus. 
Range. — Sage plains of the Rocky Mountain 
region from British Columbia to New Mexico, 
and from California to Dakota. This hand- 
Pale greenish drab 
some bird is the largest of the American 
Sage Hen Grouse, being about 30 inches long (the hen 
bird is about six inches shorter). It may easi- 
ly be recognized by its large size, its peculiar graduated tail with extremely 
sharp pointed feathers, and the black belly and throat. Their nests are hollows 
scratched out in the sand, under the sage bushes, generally with no lining. 
The nesting season is during April and May, they laying from six to twelve 
eggs of a greenish drab color, spotted with brown. Size 2.15 x 1.50. 
PHEASANTS. Family PHASIANID^E 
* * * Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasianus torquatus. 
Several species of Pheasants have been introduced into the United States, 
among them being the Ring-necked, English, and 
Green Pheasants. The Ring-necked species seems 
to be the only one that has obtained a really strong 
foothold, it being now very abundant in Oregon 
and Washington, and adjacent states, and also 
found in abundance on many game preserves in 
the east. The males of any of the species may at 
once be distinguished from any of our birds by 
the long tail. Their nests are hollows in the 
leaves under tufts of grass or bushes. They lay 
from eight to fourteen eggs of a buff or greenish 
buff color, unmarked; size 1.50 x 1.30. 
188 
Greenish buff 
