GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS WEST OF 100TH MERIDIAN. 317 
In fact, the tameness of the sage hen when, say, two-thirds grown, is occasionally so 
remarkable as to appear scarcely credible. As an instance, I remember on one occa¬ 
sion, when in one of the wilder districts of Oregon, pointing out a pair to a comrade, 
who had expressed a desire to try a shot on the wing at this, to him, new game. Un¬ 
screened by cover, the pair permitted him to approach within a dozen feet or so, re¬ 
garding with mild wonder his demonstrative motions, and even failing to take alarm 
when dirt and pebbles were tossed at them. With the remark that they were too 
slow game for him, my disgusted friend left them to resume their picking among the 
herbage, which they did while we were still regarding them. 
During the months of June, July, and August the young are very tender, and, if 
properly attended to by being drawn as soon as shot, are fair eating, but this is the 
limit of praise that my taste, at least, will permit me to bestow. 
Pedicecetes Elliott. 
P. pha8iane1lu8 columbianus (Ord). Southern Sharp-tailed Grouse. 
This grouse appears to be entirely absent from Eastern California and Western Ne¬ 
vada, except in the upper districts. About Camp Bidwell, Cal., the “ sharp-tails ” are 
sufficiently numerous to afford excellent shooting, and good bags may be made there. 
Farther north iu Oregon, and especially on the grassy plateaus that border the Columbia 
River and on the rolling hills for a hundred miles south, it is extremely abundant. Most 
of this section is quite uncultivated, and the grouse live among the dry hills and get fat 
upon their natural food of seeds, berries, and insects. They descend regularly into the 
valleys, as well to get water as to roost in the brush at night. A stubble-field of 
wheat is sure to attract them in great numbers, especially towards fall, and they seem 
to prefer this fare to aught else. 
I have never had any experience in the field with the true prairie chicken (C. cupiclo), 
but, judging from the written accounts, the general habits of the two birds are ex¬ 
tremely similar. 
Bonasa Stephens. 
B. umbellus sabinii (Dough). Red Ruffed Grouse. 
This form of the ruffed grouse occurs abundantly along the eastern slope, although 
perhaps not until Oregon is entered. At least, Fort Klamath was the first point at 
which 1 obtained undeniable proof of its presence. 
It may here be remarked that the grouse of this region, while referable as above, 
do not typically represent the variety sabinii, which reaches its maximum of develop¬ 
ment, as indicated by depth of color and redness of tint, only on the Pacific slope. 
In the dense coniferous forests that border the Columbia, as it passes through the 
Cascade Mountains, these grouse are found iu very great abundance, the almost im¬ 
penetrable undergrowth of deciduous bushes, with their nutritious fare of buds and 
berries, greatly favoring its presence, as offering both food and cover. 
It is scarcely necessary to add any details respecting the habits of this bird ; for in 
this remote region it appears the exact counterpart of the familiar partridge of New 
England. True, they are here very tame and almost devoid of fear of man; so tame 
are they, iu fact, that without a dog it is well nigh useless to attempt their pursuit. 
Provided with almost any sort of a cur that will run through the bushes and bark 
when the birds wing their way to the nearest tree, which they will invariably do when 
started, almost any desired number may be potted; for “ pot hunting” it is, and noth¬ 
ing else. 
Much the same statement may be made of the conduct of the ruffed grouse in the 
more remote New England districts, as in some unfrequented parts of Maine ; so, with 
a statement of geueral couformity of habits, the subject may be left. 
PERDICIDiE—Quails. 
Oreortyx Baird. 
O.pictus (Dough). Mountain Quail. 
Judging from the personal field experience of the pa,st three seasons, this fine game¬ 
bird is much more numerous within an area of twenty-five miles of Carson than any¬ 
where to the northward. In fact, it is only at rare intervals that it appears to cross the 
mountains and appear along the eastern slope. Evidence upon this point is not so 
full as could be desired, since its introduction at the hands of man at certain points 
renders the question of its natural distribution in this region a difficult one to deter¬ 
mine. In general, it is safe to say that the places where they have reached and main¬ 
tained a residence along this slope are very few. Nevertheless, about Carson, at Eagle 
and Honey Lakes, Cal., and at The Dalles, on the Columbia, their presence was de- 
