378 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
where it is rather common. It is generally unfit for food, owing to the 
rank taste and odor imparted to the flesh by the leaves of spruce and 
other evergreens upon which it feeds. 
•JO. Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus. {On/.} Coups. Shakp- 
tailed Grouse. — Common, except in the southeastern part of the 
State. Not found about St. Paul end Minneapolis, except accidentally. 
It is an excellent food bird, the flesh being lighter in color than that of 
the prairie hen or pinnated grouse. It may be readily distinguished 
from the latter, not only by the marked difference in the pattern of 
coloration, but by the presence of two lengthened feathers in the cen¬ 
tre of the tail, from which character it takes its name. Great num¬ 
bers of the sharp-tailed game are sold in our markets every season. 
21. Oupidonia cupido (Linn.) Bd. Pinnated Grouse. — Found through¬ 
out the State where not timbered, except, perhaps, a small area in the 
northwestern part. As winter approaches the pinnated grouse collect in 
vast flocks, called “ packs", and during severe seasons many apparent¬ 
ly retire to the corn fields and milder climate of Iowa. 
22. Bonasa umbellus [Linn). Steph. Ruffed Grouse. —Common, and 
well known by both the names pheasant and partridge, neither of 
which, however, belong properly to this bird. The ruffed grouse has 
greatly decreased in numbers in the more settled parts of the State 
during the last few years. 
23. Ortyx virginianus (Linn.) Bp. Qfatt. Bob-white. —Rather com¬ 
mon in the southern part of the State, but our severe winters and con¬ 
tinuous snows prevent them becoming very numerous. 
WINTER VISITANTS. 
24. Ampelis garrulus Linn. Northern Waxwing. —An irregular. 
though at times abundant visitor from the north. It usually appears 
in the northern part of the State from November 15, to December 15, 
and remains until the middle or latter part of April. (April 25, 1876; 
April 12, 1877; April 14, 1880.) * It sometimes appears in abun¬ 
dance in March and April, when it has not been seen during the pre¬ 
vious winter, as in the spring of 1877. 
They associate in flocks often of large size, and during * their sojourn 
here live chiefly about our towns and cities, being quite tame and un¬ 
suspicious. Their beautiful crest and rich, smooth plumage gives 
them a jaunty, trim appearance, which has brought them into more 
general notice than perpaps any other one of our winter biids. The 
resemblance between the northern waxwing and the common cedar or 
cherry bird is so close, that many persons are only convinced that they 
are distinct after a close comparison of specimens. The present bird 
is larger and darker than its summer representative and has on the 
wing, m addition to the red wax-like appendages, common to both 
species, considerable white and often some yellow markings. The two 
species may sometimes be seen in early spring associating together in 
* When no locality is specified, dates refer to the vicinity of Minneapolis. 
