PEDIAECAETES COLUMBIANUS. 
I have at various times obtained hybrids between this species and Cupidonia Oupido, and also between it and the more northern Sharp-tail, 
Pediaecaetes Phasianellus. Some of the offspring of this species and the Prairie Chicken are very handsome birds, having a good deal of the 
pnre white nnder parts of the Sharp-tail, bnt the upper part of the breast and the flanks are crossed with bars scolloped on the lower edge, 
instead of the single heart-shaped spots, making a very peculiar and striking etfect. Of course these hybrids vary a good deal in their markings, 
accordingly as the Prairie Chicken or the present species predominates, for some incline to one species more than to the other. This species is 
distributed from the Mississippi, throughout the northern and western prairies, to Oregon and Washington Territories. 
Head and throat brownish-yellow, the front, crown, occiput and cheeks irregrdarly marked with black or very dark brown ; superciliary stripe 
whitish ; back ferruginous brown, variously spotted with black or brownish yellow ; wings brownish gray, with large spots of white on all the 
coverts ; transverse bars on the secondaries, and the outer wmbs of the primaries, which are dark brown, spotted with the same ; the tail feathers 
have the inner web white, outer, brownish gray, dotted with darker brown, the central feathers are elongated and of the same color as the back ; 
under parts pure white, the feathers on the breast and flanks having a brown XJ-shaped mark. Bill black ; feet brown. There is no difi’erenee 
in color of plumage between the sexes. The young have the upper parts a light brownish yellow, crossed irregularly with lines of blackish 
brown; wings pinkish white, barred with black. Entire under parts yellow, darker on the sides and upper part of breast. Thighs and tarsi 
same color as belly. BiU light yellow, with a central brown line on upper mandible. 
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