446 BIRDS—TETRAONIDA. 
tawny a little speckled, or not; vent and crissum mostly white; quills fuscous with 
white spots on the outer webs; tail fuscous, with narrow or imperfect white or tawny 
bars and tips; sexes alike in color, but the female smaller with shorter neck-tufts. 
Length, 16-18; wing, 8-9; tail, about 5. 
Habitat, fertile prairie country of the United States, nearly to eastern foot-hills of the 
Rocky Mountains in some latitudes—especially Mlinois, Iowa, Missouri, eastern half of 
Minnesota, Southeastern Dakota, Middle and Eastern Kansas and Nebraska, Arkansas and 
Eastern Texas. Var. pallidicinctus from Western Texas. Still lingers in certain localities 
in the Middle States and New England. 
Rare resident in Northwestern and Central Ohio. Probably breeds. 
In the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club (1. c.) I noted the 
capture of the only specimen taken in this county for many years, as 
follows: 
‘‘ A male Pinnated Grouse was killed by a gunner, seven miles west of Columbus, 
November 16, 1878. By the kindness of Mr. A. B. Stevenson, who purchased the bird, 
the skin is now in my collection. As long ago as 1833 Dr. Kirtland wrote: ‘The Prairie 
Hen is found in considerable numbers in the northwestern parts of the State.’ Itisnow 
very rare, though a few remain in the vicinity of Toledo, and in Erie, Ottawa, Craw- 
ford and Marion counties. Mr. R. E. Neil informs me that a few years since a few re- 
mained at Radnor, Delaware county.” 
Since the above was published I have learned that Messrs. Al. Buttles 
and Charles Wagner, well-known sportsmen of this city, flushed a pair 
of these birds a few years since, not far from the locality in which the 
above mentioned specimen wassecured, but did not succeed in taking 
them. I learn that they also remain in Wyandot county, and in the 
vicinity of Venice, Sandusky county, though in very limited numbers; 
and on perhaps less reliable authority that they have been seen in Fair- 
field and Pickaway counties. It seems not impossible that they may be 
now on the increase after having once been nearly exterminated or driven 
from the State. Itis to be hoped that proper legislation may afford to 
the birds of this family an opportunity of recovering their diminished 
numbers so far as can be done by protection from pursuit and capture, at 
all seasons, for a sufficient number of years. 
‘ The nest of the Prairie Hen is placed on the ground. The eggs, usually 
from eight to twelve, are pale gray or brown, usually unmarked, but 
sometimes uniformly sprinkled with brown. They measure about 1.75 
by 1.25 inches. 
GENUS BONASA. Stephens. 
Lower half of tarsus bare, with two rows of scutelle anteriorly. Sides of neck with a 
ruff of broad, truncate soft feathers. Tail very broad, square, as long as the wings. 
