BIRDS OF COLORADO. 
71 
the moss and rocks that they are apt to depend on this for 
safety and allow a very close approach. The returning change 
to white begins in September and is completed in December. 
308b. Pediocaetes phasianellus campestris. Prairie 
Sharp-tailed Grouse. 
Resident; not common. There are few parts of the State 
where the “Pin-tail” can now be called common. Twenty 
years ago it was plentiful in the northern half of Colorado on 
the plains and in the foothills up to 7,000 feet on both sides of 
the range. Even as late as ten years ago it was not uncommon 
throughout Larimer County. It can be said now to inhabit the 
same regions, but in such small numbers that its early extermi- 
nation is probable. A few are still found across the whole of 
northern Colorado from Nebraska to Utah and south on the 
plains to at least Burlington and the “Divide” south of Denver. 
Formerly a few were found throughout the southern half of 
Colorado, but there are no late records of its occurrence south 
of the places named. So far as known the present small and 
scattered flocks of Sharp-tailed Grouse are strictly resident. 
When they were more abundant they used to perform a short 
migration in eastern Larimer County, moving into the foothills 
in the summer and coming down onto the plains in immense 
flocks in the fall. 
[Note. It may be that the Sharp-tailed Grouse of Routt 
County are variety columbianus^ but all the Colorado birds 
examined by the present writer are ca 7 npesiris^ 
309. Centrocercus urophasianus. Sage Grouse. 
Resident; common. As its name implies, it is an inhabit- 
ant of the artemesia or sage-brush plains, and is scarcely found 
elsewhere. It inhabits these favorable localities throughout 
the State, but it is much more common in the northern than 
the southern half of the State. It is resident where found, 
except possibly at some of the higher points to which it moves 
during the summer. It winters from the plains to 7,000 feet, 
and regularly breeds to 8,000 feet. A few range in summer as 
high as 9,500 feet. 
310. Meleagris gallopavo. Wild Turkey. 
Resident; rare, and will probably soon be exterminated. 
There still remains a doubt as to whether the eastern Wild 
Turkey is the variety that occurs in soutlieastern Colorado. A 
few years ago the.se birds were enormously abundant along the 
Arkan.sas River in Kansas and Indian Territory, hence it is fair 
to presume that any found along that river in Colorado would 
be the same variety especially if found on the plains east of the 
mountains. Those taken by C. E. Aiken in this locality have 
