BIRDS OF COLORADO. 
159 
Page 70. 300b. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. Gray 
Ruffed Grouse. 
One was shot about eighteen miles south of Denver the 
latter part of December, 1894. It was with several others and 
they were seen on several occasions. Mr. D. D. Gilmore reports 
-Seeing five January 3, 1898, and more on the following week 
near Sweet Water Lake in Eagle County at 8,000 feet. An old 
hunter there told him that they are never seen in summer, but 
come in the winter and are sometimes quite common. 
Page 71. Add. 305. Tympanuchus americanus. Prairie 
Hen. 
Summer visitant; rare and local. There have been many 
reports of true “Prairie Chickens” in Colorado, but all reported 
previous to 1897 have proved on investigation to be Sharp-tailed 
•Grouse. During last October the present writer saw some 
Prairie Chickens at Ogallala, Neb., some twenty-five miles east 
of the Colorado line. Diligent inquiry has revealed the fact 
that they are quite common a little east of Ogallala and decrease 
suddenly to the westward. More than half of those questioned 
had never seen one west of that place. They do, however, 
extend occasionally into Colorado, for Mr. J. S. Robertson of 
Barton, has seen them twice at his place, which is about two 
miles within the Colorado line. Though this species has for 
years been moving westward, its further extension will be slow 
and probably not for. any great distance. From Ogallala west¬ 
ward for the next hundred and fifty miles the native country is 
entirely unsuited to their wants, and the only grain fields occur 
as isolated patches of small extent under the ditches near the 
South Platte River. There is little to induce the birds to enter 
this country, and any that did migrate there would soon be ex¬ 
terminated by hunters and coyotes. 
Page 71. 308b. Pediocaetes phasianellus campestris. 
Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 
Reports from two hunting parties that visited northwestern 
Colorado during the fall of 1897 indicate that in some of the 
wilder regions these birds are still not uncommon. The only 
specimen that was brought back was typical campestris. 
Page 71. Add. 000. Phasianus torqu'atus. Ring Pheasant. 
Resident; not common and local. This is the commonly 
called Mongolian Pheasant that has been introduced south of 
Denver. Mr. Aiken also saw one in the fall of 1897 near Colo¬ 
rado Springs, though this may have been a bird escaped from 
captivity. 
