PEDIAEOAETES PHASIANELLUS. E l l io t ,
TETRAO PItASIANELLUS. Bon., Geog, and Comp. List Birds, p. 44.—Lath., Ind. Ornitli., vol. ii„ p. 635,—Linn., Syst. Nat., vol.
edit. lOth, p. 160 (175S).—Sab. Frank., 1st voy., p. 680.—Forst., Philos. Trans., Ixii., 1772, p. 394 nnd 495,
CENTROCERCUS PHASIANELLUS. G. R. Gray, Cat. B. Bi'it. Miis., Part III.—Bon., Compt. Rend., xlv., p. 428 (1857).
TETRAO (CENTROCERCUS) PHASIANELLUS. Swain, Faim. Bor. Amor,, vol. ii., p. 361 (1831),
SHARP-TAIL GROUSE. Penn, Arct. Zool,, vol. i„ p. 357, No. I8L—Hearnc’s Journ., p. 408.
LONG-TAILED GROUSE. Edw., Birds, vol. iii., p. 117.
TETRAO UROGALLUS. Linn., Syst. Nat., vol. i., edit, 12tli, p. 273.—Var. B.
PEDIOCAETES KENNICOTTI. Snokl., Proc. Acad. Nat. Scion, (1861).
PEDIOCAETES PHASIANELLUS. Elliot, Proc. Acad. Nat, Scion., p. 403 (1862 and 1864).
AW-KIS-COW. Crce Indians.
Tins species, heretofore confounded with the Sliarp-tail Gronse inhabiting tho western portions of the United States, is found in Arctic
America, plentiful around Hudson’s Bay, but never yet, I believe, has it been obtained within tho limits of tlio Union. I t is easily
distinguishable from its near ally, its pi-ovailiug black and ivhito colors forming a strong contrast to the brownish veilow of tho 1’.
Columbiiiniis.
My friend Mr. Kcnnicott, woli known fov his successful laboi-s in the various brandies of natural liistory, amid the wilds of the frozen
North, scut to the Smithsonian Institution many examples of this species, obtained by him in Ids last expedition. These «’ere the first
ever in tho possession of any American ornithologist, and wore named by Dr. Suckley in honor of the gentleman who pi-ocuvcd them, as
they were evidently very diflbvcnt from the bird commonly known as P. Phasianclhis, .so abundant in some portions of our Western
prairies. But, on a more critical examination, it was fomul th a t this was tlio species to iiliieli Limircus liad long since given the name
of PhadancUm, and, consequently, it of course took precedence over th a t of P. Kcmncotti, wliich sank into a synonym.
The present bird resembles its relative in its habits, goes in (locks, and is destitute of any gular sack. I t may be described as
folloivs:
General color black. Top of head black, a foiv faint marks of rusty toward tlio occiput, sides of head black, tlie feathers tipped
with white; tlioso on tlio side and back of neck tip|icd with rusty; throat white, spotted with black. Tlio iiack is also black, the
feathers margined with rufous brown; the rump is lighter, caused by the feathers being tipped bi-oadly with grayish; the elongated
central feathers of the tail arc jot black, irregularly crossed with yellowish white and gray. Wings blackish brown, with large white
spots oil all tlio coverts in addition to the rusty margins of the feathers; primaries blackish, with white marks on their outer webs. Tail
aomctiincs grayish a t the base, with white tips or pure white. Under parts pure white, with a black V-sliaped mark near the centre
of tho feathers on the breast and flanks, gradually growing smaller and fainter as they approach the abdomen and vent. The white
feathers of tho legs are liair-likc, and extend over the toes quite to tlic nails. Bill black; feet dark brown.
The figures iu the plate arc of the sizo of life.