Part 23

Nest.—In hollows on the ground in the cover of tufts of grass; they lay from eight to fifteen eggs, having a buffy ground color, finely sprinkled with brown spots (1.70 × 1.25).

WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN. 304. Lagopus leucurus. 13 inches.

Found in the higher ranges of the Rocky Mountains, from Colorado north to Alaska. This species differs from any of the preceding in having at all seasons of the year a white tail; it is also somewhat smaller than the Rock Ptarmigan. From six to twelve creamy white eggs; speckled and blotched with chestnut brown (1.70 × 1.15).

COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 308a. Pediœcetes phasianellus columbianus. 18 inches.

These have no pinnates or ruffs on the neck, but the head is a little more crested than that of the Prairie Hen. The tail has the central feathers nearly two inches longer than the others, which are also graduated so that the outside ones are much the shortest, and are lighter in color than the central ones. It is not barred like the former, but the black markings on the back and under parts are more in the form of crescents. It is also much lighter in general color.

Nest.—They are usually concealed in thickets or tufts of grass and contain from six to fourteen eggs of a drab color, finely dotted all over with dark brown (1.70 × 1.25).

Range.—Northwestern United States and British Columbia to central Alaska.

RING-NECKED PHEASANT. *** Phasianus torquatus. 32 inches.

The male of this beautiful Pheasant varies greatly in length according to the development of the tail, it sometimes being 36 inches long. These birds have been introduced in Oregon and Washington, as well as in many places in the East, and are becoming very abundant.

SAGE GROUSE. 309. Centrocercus urophasianus. 29 inches.

The female of this large and interesting Grouse differs from the male only in its smaller size and paler plumage. They are found in abundance on the dry sagebrush covered plains about the Rocky Mountains and to the westward. In fall and winter their food consists almost entirely of the leaves of the sagebrush, their flesh being unfit to eat at this season. In the mating season they indulge in the usual antics of the grouse family. They have the same peculiar sacs on the sides of the neck which they inflate so that the whole neck is a small orange colored balloon, at the same time spreading their long pointed tail feathers to their fullest extent, and strutting about after the manner of the turkey.

Nest.—Are shallow hollows in the ground, under, generally, a sagebush or some protection to cover the nest; six to twelve eggs of a greenish drab color, spotted with brown (2.15 × 1.50).

MERRIAM TURKEY. 310. Meleagris gallopavo merriami. 48 inches.

Female much duller and smaller than the male. The plumage is a coppery bronze color and their upper tail coverts are a dusty color with no white edges. 8 to 16 eggs; buff spotted with brownish (2.55 × 1.90).

BAND-TAILED PIGEON—Family Columbidæ. 312. Columba fasciata. 16 inches.

This large species may be recognized by the white crescent on the back of the neck, by the broad gray band; bordered with black at the end of tail. Back, near the neck, brownish shading into a gray nearer the tail. Head and neck of iridescent colors, very changeable in different positions. They are very abundant on the mountain ranges, sometimes in immense flocks. They feed on grain, wild berries and acorns, and are found mostly in the oak and pine woods.

Nest.—Is a rude platform of sticks, just enough to barely keep in place the single white egg (rarely two) which they lay (1.55 × 1.10).

Range.—The Rocky Mountains and westward to the Pacific, from British Columbia to Mexico.

MOURNING DOVE. 316. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. 12 inches.

Now that the Passenger Pigeon has become extinct, this is the only one to be found nearly all over the United States, and is common in the southern, central and western parts. Nests are placed at low elevations in the trees. Two white eggs (1.15 × .80).

MEXICAN GROUND DOVE. 320a. Chæmepelia passerina pallescens. 7 inches.

Size very small; tail short and nearly square; back of head and under parts with breast a pinkish gray, with feathers tipped with black, giving a scaly appearance; back brownish gray, faintly barred; several black spots on wing coverts.

Nest.—Is made of weeds and twigs, placing the flat, frail structure either in bushes or on the ground, in which are placed the two white eggs (.85 × .65).

Range.—Border of the United States, from Texas and southern California southward.

INCA DOVE. 321. Scardafella inca. 8 inches.

Tail is longer than preceding and more rounded, and the outer feathers are tipped with white. Head, neck and whole body of a pinkish gray; scaled as is the former. These are very tame, and are to be met with in the roads, barnyards, and seem to be almost domesticated in their habits, even feeding with the poultry about the farmhouse.

Nest.—These are rather more compactly made, of twigs, rootlets and weeds, and placed near the ground in low bushes; only two white eggs are laid (.85 × .65). Not as common as the previous.

CALIFORNIA VULTURE—Family Cathartidæ. 324. Gymnogyps californianus. 50 inches.