173 
tailed is a bird of the brush and light timber rather than the prairie, but is 
not a deep woods species like the Ruffed, nor a mountain one like the 
Blue. 
In the autumn it gathers in large flocks and has been blamed for eating 
grain in the stook and doing some damage. Careful investigation shows 
that unless the ground is covered with snow the birds prefer feeding on 
waste grain in the stubble to that in the stooks. They like to perch on 
such small eminences to enjoy the sun or for outlook when the flock is 
feeding in the stubble. The larger proportion of food in the crops of a 
number of birds shot in seemingly incriminating circumstances in freshly 
stooked wheat fields, consisted of weed seeds, especially bindweed, waste 
fruit, and vegetation, showing that they are not partial to grain, when 
other food is available. On the other hand both this and the previous 
species are notable grasshopper devourers and probably in this capacity 
are worth many times the loss they inflict. On the whole this is a most 
valuable bird from both sporting and agricultural standpoints. 
309. Sage Hen. Centrocercus urophasianus. L, 26. A very large Grouse finely 
marked in dull white and browns without much evident pattern, giving a general creamy- 
bi own effect, with a dark brown abdominal spot and a rounded variegated tail of sharply 
pointed feathers (Figure 197). 
Figure 197 
Tail of Sage Grouse; scale, about $. 
Distinctions.^, Large size, general colour effect of the Sharp-tailed but with finer and 
less decided pattern, tail of all sharply pointed feathers, and dark abdominal patch. Un- 
mistakable for any other species. 
Field Marks. Large size, general pale brown coloration, with dark abdomen and tail 
like a section of a many pointed star. 
Distribution. Across the sage brush plains from the Canadian border south to New 
Mexico. This species occurs in Canada only along the southern borders of western Saskat- 
chewan and eastern Alberta. At one time it occurred as a straggler in the southern part 
of the Okanagan valley of British Columbia. 
This fine big Grouse occurs on the sage brush plains of the higher arid 
prairie steppe. Much of the ground it inhabits is useless for anything 
but grazing and this is probably all that nas saved it to us. The species 
still exists in limited numbers in out of the way localities. In general the 
large ranch holders have shown an admirable spirit of protection towards 
